Spotprent met premier Peel tussen tragedie en komedie Possibly 1845 - 1848

This print, made by John Doyle, presents Sir Robert Peel caught between the allegorical figures of Tragedy and Comedy. Note the stark contrast in Doyle's rendering of the figures. On one side, Comedy is drawn with bold, exaggerated lines, emphasizing her boisterous energy and wide grin. Her pulling gesture is vigorous, almost frantic. In opposition is Tragedy, depicted with flowing lines that suggest a somber, statuesque presence. The grayscale palette further accentuates this contrast. Look at the structure, this carefully constructed opposition isn't just visual, it's deeply semiotic. Comedy represents the chaotic, often irrational world of public opinion, while Tragedy embodies the grave consequences of political decisions. The composition thus becomes a stage where Peel, as the central figure, is forced to perform. Doyle uses line and form to destabilize any fixed meaning. Instead, he invites us to consider politics as a theater of conflicting forces and shifting roles.