The Fall of James II, 1689

This Dutch etching celebrates the Glorious Revolution through crowded, energetic satire. A central figure in armor—James II—stands surrounded by soldiers, clergy, and common people, some bearing crosses and flags, in a theatrical interior beneath a radiant sun. The dense composition, detailed line-work, and accompanying verse exemplify Northern European political prints of the era. The print descends from a tradition of popular satire using exaggeration, symbolic props, and moral judgment to shape public opinion. Such sheets—forerunners of the modern comic—combined image and text to reach both literate and illiterate audiences.