Broad Bottom Drones Storming the Hive Possibly 1808

James Gillray created this hand-colored etching in England, at a time of intense political conflict. Gillray satirizes the political situation in 1806, after the death of William Pitt the Younger. He depicts members of the new coalition government as bees raiding a hive that is labeled ‘Treasury Bench’, suggesting greed for public funds. The image is packed with caricatures of recognizable political figures. Gillray's prints were popular because they offered witty commentary on the events of the day, but they were also controversial because they often attacked prominent people and institutions. His work tells us a lot about the public role of art at the time. Was his satire a form of legitimate critique, or was it simply libel? Historians use visual sources such as political cartoons to understand the social and political dynamics of the past. Examining the prints alongside other historical sources, such as newspapers, letters, and diaries, can give us a deeper understanding of the period.