Spotprent op Charles Fox, 1788 Possibly 1788

This 1788 print by James Gillray, now in the Rijksmuseum, casts a satirical eye on Charles Fox through Shakespearean characters. Notice how Fox is depicted as Falstaff, the jovial but morally questionable knight from Henry IV. Flanking him are other figures from the play. This theatrical guise is more than costume; it’s a commentary on Fox’s political maneuvering, associating him with Falstaff’s cunning and lack of virtue. Consider the recurring figure of the jester, or fool, a motif stretching back to antiquity. Here, the fool's traditional role of speaking truth to power is twisted. Gillray uses the theatrical scene to suggest that Fox is not just a politician but a performer, playing a role for public approval. This recalls the ancient Roman tradition of political satire, where public figures were lampooned to expose their flaws, revealing the enduring power of imagery to shape political discourse across centuries.