Spotprent op het verlies van Menen en de komst van de hertog van Vendôme uit Italië, 1706 1706

This anonymous print from 1706, now in the Rijksmuseum, captures a moment of Dutch anxiety during the War of the Spanish Succession. It shows the French general, the Duke of Vendôme, arriving from Italy in a precarious chariot just as the town of Menen falls. But why depict a military leader's arrival as a chaotic procession? Consider the Dutch Republic's delicate position at the time. A small Protestant nation surrounded by larger Catholic powers, its wealth derived from international trade. Military setbacks threatened not only territory but also economic stability and national identity. The print satirizes Vendôme's arrival, suggesting that even with reinforcements, the French cause is doomed. The text surrounding the image underscores this message, turning a moment of potential French triumph into one of ridicule. To fully understand this print, we need to delve into the pamphlets and political debates of the period, piecing together the complex tapestry of Dutch society and its place in European power struggles. The image, after all, is only one piece of evidence.