Het oplossen van de Rijnbond, 1813 Possibly 1813

This satirical cartoon, "Het oplossen van de Rijnbond, 1813" (The Dissolution of the Confederation of the Rhine, 1813) by Thomas Rowlandson, depicts the chaotic fall of the Confederation of the Rhine. The artwork utilizes the trope of a chemist's lab to visualize this historical event, with various figures representing different European powers, "stirring" the pot of war. Rowlandson, known for his caricatures, uses exaggerated features and humorous details to highlight the absurdity of the situation, ultimately criticizing the political machinations of the time.