Spotprent op Aleksandr Soevorov, 1799 Possibly 1799

This is James Gillray's 1799 print depicting Aleksandr Suvorov, made with etching and watercolour and now held in the Rijksmuseum. The figure of Suvorov dominates the composition, its scale amplified against a background of muted blues and greys. The textures are brought to life with precise linework which articulates his severe gaze and disheveled fur garments. Behind him, a city blazes, rendered with frantic, chaotic strokes, a visual metaphor for the brutal victories associated with the General. Gillray uses the visual vocabulary of caricature to dismantle the heroic ideal. Suvorov's exaggerated features, particularly his intense stare, destabilize any sense of classical heroism, presenting instead a figure of unsettling intensity. This print serves as a semiotic exercise, using culturally-understood symbols of power and violence to question the values of military glory during a time of widespread conflict. The etching's meticulous detail, combined with its satirical intent, invites ongoing interpretation, prompting us to reconsider the relationship between representation, power, and the critique of militarism.