Stanislaus Leszczyński, koning van Polen vlucht in een boot uit Dantzig 1786

Reinier Vinkeles’s engraving captures Stanislaus Leszczyński's escape from Danzig. Rendered in detailed lines, the composition balances the foreground's dark boat against the distant city aflame. This dramatic scene evokes both tension and a sense of historical weight. The structure of the artwork is divided between water and sky, with the figures situated between these realms. Vinkeles masterfully uses line and shadow to create depth, drawing our eyes to the chaos in the background. This contrast destabilizes the traditional heroic narrative, presenting a scene of vulnerable escape rather than triumphant victory. Semiotically, the fire signals not just physical destruction but also the crumbling of political power. Note the meticulous detail in the figures' clothing, which contrasts with the abstract rendering of the smoke. Vinkeles challenges us to reconsider how we interpret moments of crisis, capturing not glory but the raw urgency of flight, forever suspended in this etched tableau.