Negen kaarten met spotprenten op de Roomse Onfeilbaarheid, 1724 1724

This anonymous print from 1724, titled "Nine Cards with Caricatures on Roman Infallibility," uses etching to present a satirical critique through a playing card format. The stark contrast of black lines on the light paper creates a visually arresting composition. Each card employs a distinct, miniature scene filled with figures and symbolic objects. The artist arranges the cards into a grid, which invites a sequential reading, and sets up a structural comparison between images. Note the use of text within each panel, and the card symbols such as hearts and diamonds, which serve as semiotic markers. These elements encourage an interpretation that extends beyond the purely visual. The print’s formal structure and semiotic coding are far from arbitrary. It is clear the artist intends to expose the fallibility of religious doctrine through caricature. Each scene works to destabilize traditional values. The intent is clear: to dismantle the perceived authority of the Church.