Exemplaar van de krant 'Le Petit Journal' van 17 december 1892 Possibly 1892

This is an image of ‘Le Petit Journal’ from December 17, 1892, illustrated by Fortune Louis Méaulle. The lithograph presents a chilling tableau of Kaiser Wilhelm II, embraced by Death, standing amidst a field of skulls. The composition employs stark contrasts. The dark uniform of the Kaiser is set against the pale shroud of Death. The skeletal remains in the foreground lead to a fiery horizon, creating a sense of depth and impending doom. These formal choices are not merely aesthetic. Consider the semiotic weight of these symbols: the Kaiser, representing power and authority, juxtaposed with Death, a universal symbol of mortality and the limits of earthly power. Méaulle destabilizes the conventional image of leadership, associating it with destruction and death. This challenges the values of militarism, reflecting broader anxieties about power and its consequences. The formal elements work together to create a powerful critique, questioning fixed meanings and inviting ongoing interpretation.