Spotprent op Theodorus de Cock

This Dutch satirical print attacks Theodorus de Cock through a mock-heroic 'Rondeau'—a formal poetic structure turned ridiculous. A rooster, symbol of vanity and foolishness, represents the target; Dutch verse surrounds the image in typical broadsheet fashion. The work exemplifies early 18th-century print satire, when etched and woodcut political attacks circulated widely among literate audiences. Crude caricature and verbal wit combined to demolish reputations. This tradition—mixing image, verse, and social mockery—directly precedes the narrative sequential art of later centuries. By the 1700s, such prints formed a popular medium of political and personal invective across Europe, establishing visual satire as a tool of public discourse.