{"product_id":"napoleon-pierced-by-a-cossack-wijnand-esser","title":"Napoleon Pierced by a Cossack - Wijnand Esser","description":"\u003cp\u003eA 1813 political satire etching by Wijnand Esser depicting the symbolic defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte by a Cossack soldier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis etching by Wijnand Esser, produced in 1813, functions as a piece of political propaganda during the final stages of the Napoleonic Wars. The print depicts a Cossack soldier on horseback, lancing Napoleon Bonaparte, who is shown in a vulnerable, almost cartoonish state. The composition is stark and direct, typical of the satirical broadsides circulated in the Netherlands during the French occupation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEsser, who operated as an art dealer and printmaker in The Hague, utilised this medium to express anti-Napoleonic sentiment. The visual language is intentionally simplified, focusing on the symbolic defeat of the French Emperor. The inclusion of the fallen bicorne hat and a single boot on the ground adds a layer of mockery to the scene, stripping the figure of his military authority. The text below the image, written in Dutch, translates to a declaration of vengeance for the suffering inflicted upon humanity, framing the act of violence as a form of retributive justice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTechnically, the work relies on clean, precise lines characteristic of early nineteenth-century etching. The figures are rendered with minimal shading, placing the focus entirely on the narrative action. As a historical document, the print captures the mood of a population eager for the end of French rule. It provides a clear example of how print culture was used to shape public opinion and disseminate political messages before the advent of mass media. The work remains a curious piece of Dutch history, reflecting the tensions of the era through a lens of caricature and nationalistic fervour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/portret-van-de-schilder-franciscus-andreas-milatz-hermanus-van-brussel\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003ePortret van de schilder Franciscus Andreas Milatz - Hermanus van Brussel — Hermanus van Brussel\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/tomb-of-the-three-curatii-brothers-in-albano-giovanni-battista-piranesi\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eTomb of the Three Curatii Brothers in Albano - Giovanni Battista Piranesi — Giovanni Battista Piranesi\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Wijnand Esser","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58646094709071,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58646142189903,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58646142222671,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58646142255439,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58646142288207,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58646142320975,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58646142353743,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58646142386511,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58646142419279,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58646142452047,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58646142484815,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58646142517583,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Napoleon-Pierced-by-a-Cossack_Poster_CompositorV1_1788359720836.jpg?v=1788360029","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/napoleon-pierced-by-a-cossack-wijnand-esser","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}