Lodewijk XIV valt ziek neer na het eten van harde Spaanse noten, 1706 1706 - 1707

This etching, made by Romeyn de Hooghe around 1706, depicts Louis XIV collapsing after eating some hard Spanish nuts. Here, we see more than just a royal stomachache; it's a symbolic commentary on the Sun King's reign. Notice the figure of Louis himself, sprawled out, the very picture of human frailty. This echoes the classical motif of the fallen hero, a theme that recurs throughout art history, from ancient Greek tragedies to Renaissance history paintings. The vulnerability displayed here, however, is a deliberate inversion. It evokes both pity and schadenfreude, a potent mix that engages us on a deeply psychological level. The 'Spanish nuts' aren't merely a dietary indiscretion. Nuts represent the fruits of labor, and in this instance, they are also a crude metaphor for political troubles of the time. This symbolism isn't unique. Think of the apple in Eden or the poisoned chalice in medieval lore. The consumption of a seemingly harmless object leading to downfall transcends time. It represents a universal fear: the hidden dangers lurking beneath a veneer of normalcy. It's a motif that cyclically reappears, adapted to new contexts yet retaining its primal power to evoke fear and uncertainty.