Napoleon krijgt de kous op de kop, 1812 1812 - 1813

Hermanus Fock created this etching titled "Napoleon krijgt de kous op de kop" - or "Napoleon gets a stocking cap" - in 1812. It's a Dutch caricature brimming with political commentary on Napoleon's disastrous Russian campaign. The image employs a host of visual symbols. Napoleon is shown being dragged through a swamp, his hat replaced by a fool's cap, alluding to his folly. In the background, we see the retreating French army, harassed by Cossacks, alongside other satirical details such as a dog in a chamber pot and a graveyard representing the immense loss of life. Fock’s print reflects the strong anti-French sentiment prevalent in the Netherlands at this time, which was then under French rule. The print lampoons Napoleon and his military failures, using humor to undermine his authority. To fully understand this work, we can consult historical archives and period publications to reveal the depth of Dutch resistance and how art became a tool for expressing it. By examining these resources, we can appreciate how art is deeply embedded in the social and political context of its time.