Spotprent op het Verdrag van Fontainebleau, 1785 1785 - 1786

This is an anonymous print from 1785, titled "Spotprent op het Verdrag van Fontainebleau". It offers a satirical view of the Treaty of Fontainebleau between the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II and the Dutch Republic. As we examine this image, we see the figures around the table, presumably representing the signatories of the treaty. What's striking is how they're portrayed. The artist uses caricature to highlight what they perceive as greed and self-interest, a common trope in political cartoons. The act of signing the treaty, a moment usually depicted with solemnity, is here rendered as a transaction of dubious morality. Look closely, and you'll see laborers digging, hinting at the exploitation of resources or perhaps the digging of graves. The artist seems to be commenting on who benefits and who pays the price in these kinds of agreements. This print encourages us to reflect on the relationship between power, representation, and the often unseen human cost of political decisions.