De Voorstelling Possibly 1787

Johann Heinrich Ramberg created this print, dating from 1787, with etching and watercolour. Here we see a Dutch scene rendered for a British audience. The title 'Performance in Holland' implies that it is intended as a form of political satire, mocking the situation in the Netherlands at the time. The imagery speaks to the political tensions of the time, specifically the Prussian intervention to restore the power of the Stadtholder William V. The figure on horseback with the sword might be interpreted as representing Prussian authority violently suppressing the Dutch population, who are depicted here as frightened and helpless. The frogs in the foreground are symbols of Holland. The print is an interesting record of the way the events in Holland were being perceived and portrayed abroad. To understand it better, we could look at British political cartoons and pamphlets of the time, to understand the British attitudes towards Dutch politics and the Prussian intervention. The social and political context is key to unlocking the print’s full meaning.