De hellevaart van een landverrader, 1784 1784

This 1784 satirical engraving, created by an anonymous artist, depicts the "hellyvaart" (hellish journey) of a traitor. The print features a group of men pulling a cart filled with a figure representing a traitor towards a monstrous beast, symbolizing the fate that awaits them. Above them, a winged figure, representing liberty, holds a lightning bolt, suggesting divine punishment. The inscription at the bottom references the "loon van landverraders" (reward of traitors), highlighting the consequences of betrayal. This print, now in the Rijksmuseum, is a powerful example of 18th-century Dutch political satire, reflecting anxieties about loyalty and betrayal.