1780 · [Netherlands
by AMERICAN REVOLUTION
[Netherlands, 1780. Engraving, proof before letters, with wide margins. An American Revolutionary War satirical print lamenting the war's effects on the English trade and the economy.
"A cow representing the commerce of Great Britain stands passively on the sea-shore while an American with a feathered cap saws off her horns; one horn lies on the ground. A Dutchman milks the cow, looking over his shoulder with a grin. France, a foppishly-dressed Frenchman, and Spain, a don in slashed doublet and cloak, hold bowls of milk. In the foreground lies the British lion asleep, unconscious of a pug-dog which stands on his back, befouling him. Behind the lion stands a plainly-dressed Englishman clasping his hands in despair. In the background across the sea is a town inscribed "Philadelphia"; in front of it, on the shore, two men on a minute scale (General and Admiral Howe) are seated at a table. Both are asleep, a punch-bowl is on the table, on the ground beside them are wine-bottles and a barrel. Beside them, laid up on dry land, is a man-of-war inscribed 'Eagle' (Howe's flag-ship)" (British Museum catalogue). First published in the Westminster magazine, separately-published Dutch and French pirated versions quickly followed. The present Dutch version was issued without text below the image.
Cf. British Museum 5472; Fowble 103; Dolmetsch, Rebellion and Reconciliation: Satirical Prints on the Revolution at Williamsburg 41. (Inventory #: 34968)
"A cow representing the commerce of Great Britain stands passively on the sea-shore while an American with a feathered cap saws off her horns; one horn lies on the ground. A Dutchman milks the cow, looking over his shoulder with a grin. France, a foppishly-dressed Frenchman, and Spain, a don in slashed doublet and cloak, hold bowls of milk. In the foreground lies the British lion asleep, unconscious of a pug-dog which stands on his back, befouling him. Behind the lion stands a plainly-dressed Englishman clasping his hands in despair. In the background across the sea is a town inscribed "Philadelphia"; in front of it, on the shore, two men on a minute scale (General and Admiral Howe) are seated at a table. Both are asleep, a punch-bowl is on the table, on the ground beside them are wine-bottles and a barrel. Beside them, laid up on dry land, is a man-of-war inscribed 'Eagle' (Howe's flag-ship)" (British Museum catalogue). First published in the Westminster magazine, separately-published Dutch and French pirated versions quickly followed. The present Dutch version was issued without text below the image.
Cf. British Museum 5472; Fowble 103; Dolmetsch, Rebellion and Reconciliation: Satirical Prints on the Revolution at Williamsburg 41. (Inventory #: 34968)