Spotprent met Lady Brittania en John Bull 1885

This print by Jan Holswilder features Lady Britannia looming large, a classic symbol of Great Britain, while John Bull, representing the English everyman, cowers in fear. The dragon marked "Modern Babel" and a cluster of menacing serpents invoke a sense of chaos. The dragon here, a serpentine creature of destruction, descends from a lineage stretching back to ancient mythologies, symbolizing primordial chaos. Recall the dragon slain by Saint George, a recurring motif representing the triumph of good over evil. Yet, here, the dragon is labeled "Modern Babel," suggesting not just chaos but also a critique of modernity and its confusing multiplicity of voices. The image, with its dramatic contrast, invokes a deep-seated anxiety about societal discord. John Bull's reaction resonates with a collective fear of the unknown, a primal scream against the complexities of modern life. This print shows us how symbols, like living organisms, evolve, adapt, and reflect the anxieties of their time.