Nachtwächter (Night Watchman)
1775
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1775
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Nachtwächter (Night Watchman) is a 1775 ink by Johann Georg Mansfeld, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a tired-looking night watchman standing on a quiet street. He’s holding a long pole with a spiked ball on top, dressed in a long coat and hat. His face looks worn, and he’s leaning slightly on the pole like he’s been walking for hours. The title at the bottom says *Nachtwächter* (German for "Night Watchman"), and the French phrase means "Sleep, he guards the hours." This was a real job—guys like him patrolled cities at night to keep order. Want to know more? Check out the technique: etching.
