Spotprent op Talleyrand en Palmerston, 1832 Possibly 1832

"The Cat's Paw" is a satirical cartoon by John Doyle, likely from 1832. It depicts two prominent figures of the time, Talleyrand and Palmerston, as anthropomorphic cats. Talleyrand, a French diplomat, is depicted with a blindfold and holding a cat that represents Palmerston, the British Foreign Secretary. The image is a commentary on the political climate in Europe, specifically the tension between Britain and France, and the manipulation of both countries by Russia (represented by the cat). This cartoon, created during a time of shifting political alliances, satirizes the roles of these figures in international affairs, using the metaphor of the cat's paw to illustrate how smaller countries are often used as pawns in larger conflicts. It's a powerful example of political caricature and social commentary in the 19th century.