Spotprent op de vlucht van Eugène, prins van Ligne, 1834 1834

This anonymous print from 1834 depicts the Prince of Ligne in flight from Brussels with his family. The print, made in the Netherlands, is a satirical take on the political turmoil of the time. The image deliberately references the classical world. The artist ironically compares Prince Eugène to Aeneas, the Trojan hero who fled his burning city carrying his father and household gods. Here, the Prince is shown with his wife, carrying caged birds, a small dog, and accompanied by a greyhound. The fleeing family suggests the instability and upheaval caused by the Belgian Revolution of 1830, which led to Belgium's separation from the Netherlands. Such political cartoons were tools that allowed the public to express their opinions about those in power. These images were widely circulated through print media and are valuable resources for historians as they reveal the social and political attitudes of the time. They offer insight into the public's perception of events and prominent figures.