De zieltogende Anjouse Monarchie (plaat b), 1711 1711

This etching by Abraham Allard, titled "De zieltogende Anjouse Monarchie (plaat b)", depicts a satirical scene of the declining French monarchy. It is one of several plates in the series "Ziettogende Anjouse Monarchye," published in 1711. The print shows a man, likely representing King Louis XIV, seated at a table with a donkey. This imagery symbolizes the perceived weakness and decline of the French monarchy under Louis XIV's rule. The artist's choice to portray the king alongside a donkey, a symbol of stubbornness and foolishness, critiques the perceived shortcomings of the French leadership. This artwork serves as a poignant commentary on the political climate of the time, offering a visual representation of the anxieties and criticisms surrounding the Anjou monarchy.