De uitvaart van een staatsman Possibly 1897

Willem van Konijnenburg’s satirical pen-and-ink drawing, "De uitvaart van een Staatsman" (The Funeral of a Statesman), is a caricature of a political figure's death in 1897. The drawing is characterized by its stark lines and use of exaggeration to lampoon the subject. The central figure, a man in a carriage, is the target of the satire, his body obscured by a massive cloak. The figure is likely a high-ranking official or politician, and the exaggerated details, like the long whip and the shrouded carriage, underscore the artist’s critique of his subject's perceived inflated importance. The figures in the foreground appear to be mourning the deceased, their somber expressions adding to the dark humor of the piece. Van Konijnenburg’s work reflects a critical perspective on politics and the Dutch government, highlighting the hypocrisy and the perceived absurdity of power.