Spotprent op de Fransen, 1674 1877 - 1879

Curator: This etching is called "Spotprent op de Fransen, 1674" created by Emrik & Binger sometime between 1877 and 1879. It's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: What a chaotic scene! It almost feels grotesque. A cacophony of characters and objects crammed into a single plane, all rendered in stark black ink. I’m immediately drawn to the unsettling contrast. Curator: It’s intended to be unsettling. Emrik & Binger are known for work deeply embedded in political and social commentary. As the title suggests, this print satirizes the French, likely in relation to a conflict. Consider it from the lens of the socio-political climate of the late 19th century, reflecting on events much older. Editor: Absolutely. You can see this even in the animals—the eagle perhaps symbolizing a nation in peril and there appears to be cooking fowl…The artist makes deliberate choices. How do you see this piece speaking to identity and political agency? Curator: Well, visual satire served a crucial function in shaping public opinion. It allowed for dissemination of ideas, critical of the French—in a way, influencing perceptions of national identity through a collective visual language. It also demonstrates a form of early political agency, before the heavy rise of mass communication that we see in the 20th and 21st century. Editor: I find the presence of animals doing such strange things very impactful, drawing from folk tales in this dark symbolic theatre. It shows how certain people in positions of power and dominance take from weaker elements. The rich clothing against such raw savagery underscores themes of excess and inequality. Curator: Indeed. The artist successfully uses symbolism rooted in a much earlier war, and cleverly recreates those imageries as a piece of political and social messaging—in effect offering a lens into enduring prejudices through the lens of a later generation's view of history. Editor: Overall, considering this etching’s engagement with historic tropes combined with socio-political messages allows the image to remain so relevant to modern society. Curator: Agreed. By critiquing historical power structures, they spark conversations around social injustice through a timeless form of dark wit.