Engelse commandant met twee Hollandse lichtekooien, 1793 Possibly 1793 - 1799

Isaac Cruikshank made this hand-colored etching titled ‘Engelse commandant met twee Hollandse lichtekooien’ in 1793. The print is a satirical caricature commenting on the political tensions between England and the Netherlands during the French Revolutionary Wars. With biting humor, Cruikshank portrays an English commander flanked by two Dutch prostitutes, a commentary on the perceived moral decay and political corruption of the time. The exaggerated features and comical expressions serve to mock the figures, while the title and the setting imply a critique of military and sexual conquest. The racial undertones are evident in the depiction of the Dutch women. The inscription at the bottom, "Preparing for Action or an English Man of War Engaging two Dutch Doggers," adds a layer of vulgarity, reducing complex political relationships to base sexual encounters. This piece reflects the pervasive anxieties about national identity and international relations during a period of upheaval and conflict.