Weging van de pasgeborene 1789

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki’s delicate etching, "Weighing of the Newborn," captures a scene laden with symbolic significance. The central act of weighing, more than a mere measurement, invokes the scales of justice and fate. In ancient Egypt, the weighing of the heart against the feather of Ma'at determined one's passage into the afterlife. Here, the newborn's weight subtly hints at a life's trajectory, its potential burdens and blessings. The surrounding figures, midwives and family, echo the chorus of Greek tragedies, their presence underscoring the gravity of the moment, a collective anticipation of the child's destiny. This scene isn't just an isolated event; it's a recurring motif in human experience, a visual echo resonating through time. Like the Fates of classical mythology, who spin, measure, and cut the thread of life, the weighing of the newborn taps into our primal anxieties about mortality and the unknown. The image engages viewers on a subconscious level, stirring deep-seated emotions tied to our own beginnings and the precariousness of life. The scales will continue to appear across time, a constant reminder of our shared human condition.