De Voorstelling Possibly 1787

Johann Heinrich Ramberg created this print, ‘De Voorstelling’ at the Rijksmuseum using etching and aquatint techniques. The work is striking for its dynamic composition and use of caricature. The scene is dominated by two distinct groups: on the right, an officer on horseback, and on the left, a disorganized crowd of figures reacting in apparent fear. The artist employs strong diagonal lines to create movement, pulling the viewer's eye from the commanding officer down to the chaotic scramble below. The contrast in colour is also significant, with the officer rendered in bold blues and reds, set against the subdued tones of the crowd, which are mainly browns and muted blues. Ramberg destabilizes traditional notions of heroism and authority. The exaggerated expressions and postures of the figures below mock their vulnerability, while the officer on horseback represents the dominance of power. The frogs in the foreground are thought to represent the Dutch. This piece challenges viewers to question the relationship between power and those subjected to it.