Spotprent op de Staatsregeling van 1798

This hand-colored etching mocks the Dutch republican constitution of 1798. A portly figure in aristocratic dress stands beside a pedestal labeled 'Vrijheid' (Freedom), crowned with revolutionary symbols—feathers, cap, and tricolor ribbon. The inscription reads 'Rechten van den Mensch' (Rights of Man) and 'Dit alles om mij zelve' (All this for myself alone). The satire targets how revolutionary ideals were co-opted by self-serving officials. This print descends from 18th-century caricature traditions pioneered by Hogarth and Gillray, combining social commentary with exaggerated portraiture. The colored etching technique allowed rapid political response, establishing conventions that would shape European political comics and eventually modern editorial cartooning.