Portret van Henri Guichard d'Hérapine 1691

Jacob Gole created this print of Henri Guichard d'Hérapine sometime between 1660 and 1737. The satirical depiction of Hérapine as "La Rapine" – or "The Robbery" – offers a glimpse into the contentious social and political landscape of 17th and 18th century Europe. Hérapine is shown in the garb of a religious figure, which raises questions about the relationship between religious institutions and power. The accompanying text below the image seems to confirm our suspicions with the lines such as "Everywhere I went, I brought terror" and "I spared neither sex nor age". Through visual codes and textual cues, Gole’s print critiques the abuse of authority and the exploitation of the vulnerable. To fully understand the print, we would need to delve into the history of Valence and Acepline, researching the social and political dynamics, and the institutional power structures of the time. This image functions as a window into a specific moment in history, and reminds us that art is always shaped by social and institutional contexts.