Mariane en Säugling 1776

Daniel Chodowiecki, a prolific printmaker, created this etching of "Mariane en Säugling," or "Marianne and her baby," at an unknown date. It depicts a scene of familial reunion and joy. Chodowiecki was working in Prussia at a time when printmaking was becoming increasingly important in the circulation of ideas and the formation of public opinion. Images like this, with their celebration of domestic bliss, were used to promote certain models of social order and moral behavior. It is not possible to tell the exact time period in which it was made. By studying the visual language of the print, as well as the artist's biography and the broader social and political context in which he was working, we can gain a deeper understanding of the many functions that art can play in shaping our world.