Spotprent op de nederlaag van de Engelsen in de slag bij Kijkduin, 1673 1673

This anonymous engraving from 1673, now residing in the Rijksmuseum, captures the Dutch perspective on the naval battle of Kijkduin. The composition is divided, the upper half illustrating the battle with symbolic figures and the lower half presenting a descriptive text. The artist uses contrasting imagery to convey the battle's outcome: a triumphant Dutch lion dominates the left, mauling a defeated English dog, while on the right, English sailors are depicted falling comically. The chaotic arrangement of figures and the stark lines of the engraving enhance the sense of disarray and defeat of the English. The formal structure of the artwork—the contrasting imagery and the division between image and text—functions as a semiotic system, reinforcing the Dutch victory and mocking the English loss. The use of animal symbolism and caricature destabilizes traditional heroic narratives, presenting the battle as a moment of Dutch triumph over English folly. This engraving serves not only as a historical record but also as a piece of political commentary, skillfully using form and structure to shape its message.