Spotprent op het Verdrag van Fontainebleau, 1785 1785 - 1786

This print, made in 1785 by an anonymous artist, uses etching to satirize the Treaty of Fontainebleau. The image is achieved by drawing into a wax ground on a metal plate, then bathing it in acid; the incised lines hold ink and transfer to the paper. Note how the relatively cheap and replicable nature of printmaking lends itself perfectly to political critique. The artist cleverly uses allegorical figures and detailed scenes to comment on the treaty's impact on Dutch trade and power. Look closely, and you’ll see the various symbols: ships representing trade, figures embodying greed and fame, and classical allusions, all meticulously rendered through the etching process. The very act of creating and distributing such a print was a form of social commentary, leveraging the means of production to challenge political decisions. This artwork blurs the lines between craft, art, and political discourse.