Karikatuur van Karel X van Frankrijk 1830

Jean Ignace Isidore Gérard Grandville made this caricature of Charles X of France using lithography. The artwork critiques the social structures of its time, particularly the monarchy and its claim to divine right, as seen in the inscription ‘Charles, by the grace of God, ex-King of France’. Grandville, working in 19th-century France, used his artistic skills to challenge the legitimacy of the restored Bourbon monarchy following the French Revolution. The image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. This lithograph reflects the socio-political climate of France, influenced by historical events such as the French Revolution and the subsequent restoration of the monarchy. To fully understand art like this, historians delve into primary sources, political pamphlets, and institutional records, considering how cultural and institutional contexts shaped its creation and reception. It is a reminder that art is not made in a vacuum but is contingent on social and institutional forces.