The New Palace of the People's Representation, Along the River

This wood engraving satirizes an architectural proposal for a parliamentary building, presenting it as an absurd waterfront structure. The print shows a monumental facade with multiple tiers of arched openings labeled with letters, topped by ornamental railings and columns. The surrounding water swarms with boats and figures, suggesting chaos and activity. The Dutch caption notes that the marked sections (A) represent water-closets—a pointed jab at the design's impracticality. The work exemplifies 19th-century political satire's tradition of architectural ridicule, drawing on techniques from Hogarth and Gillray. Such prints mocked public projects through exaggerated technical detail, combining social commentary with visual humor in a format that directly preceded the editorial cartoon and comic strip.