Christian Wilhelm von Dohm (1751–1820)

C. Guerin, Christian Wilhelm Dohm (1751–1820) als preußischer Gesandter, Punktierstich nach F. Hof, um 1800; Bildquelle: LWL- Landesmuseum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte (Westfälisches Landesmuseum) Münster/Sabine Ahlbrand-Dornseif, Inv. Nr. K 64-103 LM.

The Prussian writer and statesman Christian Wilhelm von Dohm was a leading figure in the movement for Jewish Emancipation. His work Über die bürgerliche Verbesserung der Juden (Concerning the Amelioration of the Civil Status of the Jews), written between 1781 and 1783, heavily influenced the debate on Jewish emancipation. He argued that educational measures were the best means of improving the social situation of the Jews. As soon as this goal was realised, legal emancipation for Jews should follow with Jews being allowed to retain their distinct community laws.

C. Guerin, Christian Wilhelm Dohm (1751–1820) as Prussain envoy, stipple engraving after F. Hof, ca. 1800; source: © LWL- Landesmuseum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte (Westfälisches Landesmuseum) Münster /Sabine Ahlbrand-Dornseif, Inv. Nr. K 64-103 LM, https://www.lwl-museum-kunst-kultur.de/en/.