Koning Willem I ontmoet een stroper - Jean Baptiste Ambroise Marcellin Jobard

A 1823 lithograph by Jean Baptiste Ambroise Marcellin Jobard depicting a narrative encounter between King William I and a poacher.

This lithograph by Jean Baptiste Ambroise Marcellin Jobard depicts a narrative encounter between King William I of the Netherlands and a poacher. Produced in 1823, the work captures a moment of social interaction that bridges the gap between the monarchy and the common citizen. The King, dressed in formal attire including a top hat and long coat, stands in conversation with a man in rustic clothing who gestures towards the distance. The composition is contained within a clean frame, typical of early nineteenth-century printmaking, and includes a caption in French below the image that translates to: 'Come to the king's palace tomorrow, I know someone who will get you a gun licence, and you will no longer be a poacher.'

Jobard, a Belgian lithographer and inventor, utilised the medium to convey a sense of anecdotal realism. The shading is achieved through delicate cross-hatching and tonal washes, which provide depth to the figures and the surrounding terrain. The background remains relatively sparse, ensuring the focus remains on the exchange between the two men. This piece reflects the interest in royal anecdotes and the portrayal of the sovereign as an accessible, benevolent figure during the early years of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. The print is a fine example of the lithographic techniques employed during the period, demonstrating the capacity of the medium to reproduce subtle gradations of light and shadow. The work is preserved in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, documenting both the technical development of printing in the Low Countries and the cultural narratives surrounding the House of Orange-Nassau.