Comité van Franse Rekwisities, 1795 1795

James Gillray created this etching entitled, Comité van Franse Rekwisities, in 1795. It satirizes the French Revolutionary army’s practice of requisitioning goods from the countries they occupied. Gillray was a London-based printmaker whose works circulated widely, particularly in the print shop of Hannah Humphrey. This image ridicules the French by showing them stealing supplies from occupied territories. Take a look at the figures: they are slovenly and disheveled, hardly the picture of revolutionary virtue. Note the wagon behind them, marked "République Francaise," piled high with stolen goods. Gillray's work reflects the widespread anxiety in Britain about the French Revolution and its potential to destabilize the British monarchy. Prints like this served as propaganda, fueling anti-French sentiment and solidifying support for the war against France. Historical images like this one can be interpreted through careful study of period sources and cultural context, deepening our understanding of how societies understand and react to major political and social upheavals.