Ilustration for “Elementarwerk” J.B. Basedowa, Tab. 9

Original graphics made in etching technique by Daniel Mikołaj Chodowiecki published in 1774 as an illustration to Elementarwerk J.B. Basedow.

Engraving shows various species of animals.

Daniel Mikołaj Chodowiecki – German-Polish painter and draughtsman born in 1726 in Gdańsk, died in 1801 in Berlin. He made over 2000 engravings (mainly etchings), over 100 miniatures and paintings, and several thousand drawings. He was a master of graphics and watercolours. One of his greatest artistic cycles were illustrations to Johann Bernhard Basedow’s Elementarwerk, published in 1774, on which he worked for 5 years.

Johann Bernhard Basedow lived from 1724 to 1790 and was a German education reformer, teacher and writer. He founded Philanthropinum, a short-lived but significant and progressive school in Dessau. One of his most important achievements was the writing of “Elementarwerk”. – an illustrated children’s handbook. In 1774, Basedow published “Elementarwerk” in four volumes, with illustrations by Daniel Chodowiecki. Elementarwerk contained a complete primary school curriculum aimed at developing the pupils’ intelligence and introducing them to the real world – not only theoretical; it was the first picture textbook for children published from “Orbis Pictus” by Comenius (1664). The Elementarwerk was complemented by “Methodenbuch”, a textbook to help teachers and parents.

Illustrations for Elementarwerk were entrusted to Daniel Chodowiecki in the main part. The artist worked on them in the years 1769-1774. Graphics reflected in etching technique on ribbed paper in 18 x 23 cm format, mostly in 4 compositions on one board. On the lower margin in the central part there is information about the number of the board, while on the right or left lower margin – the signature of the artist (on the board).

The graphic was also published in 1909, but this copy is most likely the first edition from 1774.

The graphics are bound in a cream passe-partout of 24 x 30 cm format.

Condition: very good-