Franse haan aangevallen door de geallieerden, 1708 1708

Curator: Here we have Carel Allard's "Franse haan aangevallen door de geallieerden, 1708," a rather intense political allegory rendered as an engraving. Editor: Intense is right! The French rooster definitely looks like it's having a rough time of it. I'm struck by the chaotic energy, all these creatures locked in this struggle, and that looming eagle overhead. It makes me wonder, what's going on here? Curator: Ah, what you're sensing is the high drama of European power plays. Think of it as a visual opinion piece from the War of the Spanish Succession. France, personified as the rooster, is getting clobbered by, as the title indicates, its allied enemies: we see lions, symbolic of England and perhaps the Dutch Republic, ganging up, and the Habsburg Eagle representing Austria about to strike the final blow from above. Look closely at each of their faces - what do they tell you? Editor: The rooster seems defiant, even while losing, and the lion figures seem resolute. So, it is a fairly blatant statement against French ambitions, then. Is it meant to incite anti-French sentiment? Curator: Precisely! Prints like this were mass media, meant to stir up public opinion and rally support for the war effort. Allard's using recognizable symbols and engaging composition to influence viewers. And those verses around the scene all provide additional context. Note how they directly address both the rooster *and* the reader, creating an immersive narrative. I almost feel myself caught in this clash of claws and feathers. Editor: I didn't even notice the written commentary before. So, the artist isn’t just showing us the conflict, but interpreting it. I wonder what people thought when they first saw it. Thanks for the added clarity! Curator: And for making *me* think how propaganda can be considered an art of its own, to get its message out loud and clear!