Linse kiest tussen Olympia en Charlotte 1784

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki made this engraving called ‘Linse chooses between Olympia and Charlotte.’ Chodowiecki lived during the Enlightenment, a period of profound intellectual and social change. This print seems to engage with the era's discourse on morality, love, and social expectations. It's a scene depicting a man in a moment of decision, torn between two women, embodying a narrative about choice and consequence. Who are these women? And what do they represent? Perhaps the figures represent virtue and temptation. The expressions and gestures of the characters, caught in a high-stakes emotional drama, invite us to reflect on our own value systems. The artist draws us into this tableau of human relationships, where personal desires clash with social norms.