Illustrations to Fables & Tales by Gellert, Gleim, Hagedorn, Lichtwer and Pfeffel
1793
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1793
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sheet holds twelve small black-and-white scenes, each framed like a tiny window. Some show people in rooms—one woman stands alone outside, another group sits around a table. Others depict animals mid-motion, like a horse rearing or a dog on a leash. Trees, curtains, and furniture fill the rest, all drawn with sharp, precise lines. Notice how the scenes feel like snapshots of everyday life, but with a dreamy twist—like a storybook come to life. These weren’t painted; they were etched into metal, a method that lets artists create fine details and soft shading. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Chodowiecki made these delicate lines.
