Spotprent op Napoleons nederlagen in 1799 Possibly 1799

This hand-coloured etching, "Allied Powers Un-booting Egalite", was created by James Gillray around 1799. Immediately, we are struck by a composition of dynamic struggle. The figures are arranged in a chaotic yet purposeful manner. Note how Gillray uses caricature to amplify his political message. Napoleon, at the center, is the target of ridicule. He is being attacked by a coalition of European powers, each rendered with specific national symbols: the Russian bear, the Ottoman Turk, and the British sailor. Italy is literally torn apart, a symbolic gesture of the territorial disputes of the time. The artist uses sharp lines to define the figures. The texture is achieved through hatching and cross-hatching, creating a sense of depth and intensity. This print destabilizes the image of Napoleon. Gillray employs visual satire to undermine Napoleon's authority. The term 'Egalite' is subverted.