Smekende armen bij het voorbijkomen van koninklijke stoet 1759 - 1793

François Anne David created this etching titled "Smekende armen bij het voorbijkomen van koninklijke stoet". Note how the artist orchestrates a scene of social contrast and movement. The composition is split between two distinct groups: a disheveled, pleading family in the foreground, and a regal procession in the background, separated by a pile of firewood. Linear perspective guides the viewer's eye from the dark, detailed foreground to the lighter, more diffuse background, emphasizing the distance—both physical and social—between the two groups. The use of line and texture is particularly striking. The foreground figures are rendered with sharp, expressive lines that highlight their distress, while the royal figures appear smoother, almost ethereal. The artist destabilizes the established social hierarchy by presenting such a stark juxtaposition, prompting us to consider the values and power structures of the time. The image functions as a critique, using form to question the moral implications of social inequality.