Major Tellheim laat Minna von Barnhelm de brief van de koning lezen
Medium
etching
Dimensions
60; 120
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228
Art Historical Context
Daniel Nikolaus Chodowie, a prolific Polish-German artist and master etcher active in Enlightenment-era Berlin, captures a poignant moment from Gotthold Ephraim Lessing acclaimed 1767 comedy *Minna von Barnhelm in this intimate 1769 etching. Titled *Major Tellheim laat Min von Barnhelm de brief van de koning lezen* ("Major Tellheim Lets Minna von Barnhelm the King's Letter"), it depicts the protagonist handing his fiancée a restorative missive from the king, symbolizing redemption and reconciliation after the devastations of the Seven Years' War (1756–1763). Lessing's play, a cornerstone of German literature, explores themes of honor, love, and forgiveness amid post-war Prussian society, making Chodowiecki's illustration a vivid window into 18th-century cultural life. Measuring just 120 × 60 mm, this delicate etching exemplifies Chodowiecki's specialty: small-scale book illustrations that brought literature to life for a wide audience. His Rococo-influenced style shines through in the expressive figures, intricate line work, and emotional intimacy, achieved via etching—a technique using acid to bite fine lines into a metal plate for precise, reproducible details. Such prints were revolutionary for democratizing art, often adorning novels and moral tales. Bearing a collector's mark (Lugt 2228) on the verso, this piece once graced a distinguished archive, underscoring its enduring appeal. Visitors, imagine holding this tiny treasure— a testament to how art bridged theater and everyday enlightenment.
About the Artist
Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki · 1726–1801
Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki (1726–1801) was a German painter and printmaker of Polish-Huguenot descent who became the most celebrated graphic artist in 18th-century Germany. Born in Danzig (now Gdańsk), he created approximately 2,000 etchings that serve as an invaluable visual record of German bourgeois life during the Enlightenment. Largely self-taught, Chodowiecki moved to Berlin in 1743 and ach...