Lodewijk XIV en Filips V vieren Vastenavond bij de Hollanders en Engelsen, 1710 1540 - 1710

This anonymous print from 1710 held at the Rijksmuseum, titled "Lodewijk XIV en Filips V vieren Vastenavond bij de Hollanders en Engelsen," is a window into the complex political landscape of early 18th-century Europe. Created during the War of the Spanish Succession, the print uses the imagery of Carnival, or Vastenavond, to satirize the relationship between Louis XIV of France and Philip V of Spain, who was Louis XIV's grandson. Carnival was a liminal time of revelry and social upheaval, and, by placing these figures within this context, the print seems to comment on the perceived disorder and excess of their rule. Note how the figures representing the Dutch and the English are depicted engaging in chaotic activities, perhaps suggesting the upheaval caused by the conflict. The print reflects the cultural anxieties and nationalistic sentiments prevalent at the time, offering a critical perspective on power, identity, and the shifting alliances that defined the era. It's a stark reminder of how art can serve as a form of political commentary.