Spotprent op Marie Antoinette en Lodewijk XVI, 1789 Possibly 1789

This hand-coloured etching, “Spotprent op Marie Antoinette en Lodewijk XVI” was created in 1789 by Isaac Cruikshank. The composition is built around a central scene of economic strain and forced sacrifice, using caricature to amplify its message. Marie Antoinette, positioned on the left, dramatically throws valuables into a fire, while Louis XVI, on the right, mints coins, surrounded by piles of gold. The use of exaggerated features, such as their bulging eyes, and heavy bodies, serves to mock the French monarchy. The artist uses light and shadow to create depth, emphasizing the contrast between the opulence being destroyed and the desperate attempt to create wealth. Cruikshank's work engages with the semiotic system of signs. The gold, the fire, the hammer; these are not merely objects but symbols. The print challenges fixed meanings of power, wealth, and leadership, engaging with revolutionary ideas about economic disparity. The formal qualities of caricature and satire work together, inviting continuous re-interpretation of the themes.