Spotprent op Van Ray, inspecteur van de boekhandel, tijdens het Franse bestuur, 1813. 1813

This 1813 print by an anonymous artist depicts Van Ray, a bookseller's inspector during the French rule in Amsterdam. The print offers a satirical commentary on the French occupation of the Netherlands, focusing on the censorship imposed on Dutch printers and intellectuals. Through caricature, the print critiques Van Ray's role in enforcing French censorship policies. He is portrayed as a figure of ridicule, his authority undermined by the symbolic act of a horse defecating on printed materials. This imagery not only mocks Van Ray but also symbolizes resistance against French cultural suppression. The verses accompanying the image further underscore the themes of liberation and defiance. The speaker is presumably the voice of the Dutch printers, now freed from the "iron fist" of censorship. They express hope for lasting freedom and condemn the "Moosflordier," a derogatory term for those enforcing French policies. The emotional resonance of this print lies in its expression of collective hope and resistance against oppression, reflecting the longing for cultural and intellectual freedom among the Dutch.