Omtrekken van koppen met legenda 1800

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, a Berlin-based artist, created this pen and gray ink drawing titled "Omtrekken van koppen met legenda," which translates to "Outlines of heads with captions." It’s a study of twenty-three men who look to be of noble birth, all depicted with powdered wigs, many with ornate jackets and military garb. Without knowing each man’s individual history, the portrait becomes a record of powerful white men who were active during the Enlightenment. Each figure is labeled and listed below. Chodowiecki himself lived through the Enlightenment and was very interested in the scientific pursuit of truth. He was a member of the Berlin Academy of Arts and Sciences and a keen observer of the cultural shifts in Europe, which is felt in the precision of his studies. While at first glance, this portrait of men appears benign, the lack of representation of other identities invites us to consider how power is expressed through art, and how portraiture has historically been reserved for those in positions of privilege.