De Hollandsche Vloot voor Marocco. Paniek in het paleis - Cornelis Marinus van Gogh

A satirical 1895 lithograph by Cornelis Marinus van Gogh, depicting the panic within a Moroccan palace upon the arrival of the Dutch fleet.

This lithograph, titled De Hollandsche Vloot voor Marocco. Paniek in het paleis, was published as a supplement to the Dutch periodical De Kroniek on 9 June 1895. The work is signed with the pseudonym Rusticus, a name frequently used by Cornelis Marinus van Gogh for his satirical contributions. The print captures a chaotic scene within a palace, depicting the alarm caused by the arrival of the Dutch fleet off the coast of Morocco.

The composition is dense with figures, reflecting the frantic energy of the narrative. In the centre, a ruler sits in distress, surrounded by courtiers and attendants who react with varying degrees of panic and confusion. To the right, figures look out from a balcony towards the sea, where the approaching ships are visible. The artist employs a loose, expressive line quality, typical of late nineteenth-century lithographic illustration, to convey the sense of urgency and disorder. The scene is framed by heavy curtains and architectural elements that suggest an exoticised, orientalist setting, a common trope in European political cartoons of the era.

Below the main image, the print includes a short verse in Dutch, which draws a loose comparison to the Song of Roland, adding a layer of literary irony to the political commentary. The lithography was executed by S. Lankhout & Co., a firm known for producing high-quality prints for the Dutch press during this period. As a piece of historical ephemera, this work provides insight into the visual language of late nineteenth-century Dutch political satire and the public perception of international naval manoeuvres. The print remains a record of the intersection between journalism, art, and political discourse at the turn of the century.