Viertiende Beproeving (The Fourteenth Tribulation)

This engraved print depicts a military officer being physically assaulted by two figures in a street scene—a sharp political mockery of authority and power. The composition recalls the satirical traditions of Hogarth and Gillray, using exaggerated postures and theatrical staging to ridicule its target through visual humor rather than explicit text alone.

The work belongs to the 19th-century European tradition of political caricature that transformed into modern sequential art. Such prints circulated widely, employing grotesque distortion and physical comedy to comment on contemporary scandals or figures. The etching technique allowed for sharp lines and fine detail, essential to caricature's effectiveness. This form—combining image, text, and satirical narrative—established conventions that would evolve directly into the comic strip and eventually the comic book format.