Satyrical Poetry 1736 - 1746

Claude Augustin Duflos le Jeune created this print, Satyrical Poetry, sometime in the 1700s. It exemplifies the 18th-century fascination with allegory, using symbolic figures to embody abstract concepts. Here, we see a female figure representing Satirical Poetry, adorned with a floral crown, holding a stringed bow. She is accompanied by cherubic figures, one with a theatrical mask. Satirical poetry was a potent tool during the Enlightenment, used to critique societal vices through wit and irony. It held immense cultural and political significance, often challenging established norms and powerful figures. Notice the Latin inscription, "Irridens cuspide figo", which translates to "Laughing, I wound with my point". This encapsulates the duality of satire: to entertain while incisively commenting on human folly. The emotional impact is palpable, as satire could uplift or deeply offend, depending on whose truths it dared to speak. The artist's representation develops an alternative narrative by personifying satire, giving a face to what was otherwise simply a literary form.