Follies of life – Daniel Chodowiécki, 1783

“Centifolium Stultorum” (“Hundredfold Folly” or “Hundred Flowers of Fools”), complete series of 12 copper engravings published in the “Goettinger Taschen…

“Centifolium Stultorum” (“Hundredfold Folly” or “Hundred Flowers of Fools”), complete series of 12 copper engravings published in the “Goettinger Taschen Calender vom Jahr 1783” made by Daniel Chodowiécki. COloured by a later hand. Size: each approx. 9 x 5 cm.

This cheerful series of prints was created during the Age of Enlightenment, in which rationalists were convinced that knowledge and reason were superior to tradition and belief. Rational thinking was believed to lead to progress. With caricatural playfulness, the follies (‘les fous‘) are targeted:

• Astrological folly
• Superstitious folly
• April folly
• Imaginary illness
• Rebellious folly
• Building mania
• The braggart
• Credit folly
• Compliments folly
• Foolish in love
• Those who follow the almanac

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiécki (1726 Danzig-1801 Berlin) was a popular German draughtsman, painter, illustrator, and printmaker. Chodowiécki’s father came from an aristocratic Polish family that had been established in Danzig since 1550. His mother was a Swiss Huguenot. Daniel’s brother shared his love for the arts; he was a miniaturist.

Chodowiécki achieved his first successes as an illustrator of almanacs and calendars. Later, his engravings made him famous worldwide. For the creation of his extensive graphic oeuvre (approximately 2300 engravings/etchings), Chodowiécki used the services of assistants. From 1764, Chodowiécki was a member of the Royal Prussian Academy of Arts.

Price: SOLD