Spotprent op prins Willem V, 1800 Possibly 1800 - 1812

This colored etching by James Gillray, dating back to 1800, captures a chaotic scene in a French millinery, teeming with symbols of disruption and anxiety during the Napoleonic era. At its center, we see the motif of a "man of feeling" rummaging through ladies' garments, an act that evokes both humor and unease. His actions are framed by the reactions of the surrounding women, whose expressions range from shock to alarm. The political cartoon is referencing a debate about where ladies wear pockets with the text "A number of disputes having arisen in the Beau Monde, respecting the Exact Situation of the Ladies Indispensibles (or new Invented Pockets) whether they were placed at the Ancle". This is a recurring theme that can be traced back to ancient Greece, in which disruptions of societal and behavioral norms symbolize a deeper cultural tension. Such symbols serve as powerful reminders of the cyclical nature of history, where anxieties are repeated throughout time, albeit in new forms.