Bedeljongen bij de boom 1758

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki made this print, "Bedeljongen bij de boom", sometime in the late 18th century. The artwork offers a window into the societal norms and class distinctions of the Enlightenment era. Chodowiecki, who was deeply engaged with the aesthetics and ethics of the Enlightenment, presents us with a barefoot boy drinking beside a tree. His clothing marks him with class status. This image appears to engage with contemporary notions of childhood, poverty, and the natural world. The figure embodies a certain vulnerability, standing alone in nature, which invites us to reflect on the social conditions that shape individual lives. How does the image navigate the complex tensions between nature and society, innocence and experience? The work serves as a poignant reminder of the lived realities of those on the margins of society.