She’s fondling herself and baring her bottom to a fireplace while reading a book: Hortense de Beauharnais, Queen Consort of Holland is shown in a bad light here. The book in her hand is labelled “Thérèse philosophe”; on the table lies “La Pucelle d’Orléans” and thrown on the floor is “Het Cabinet der Dames”(*) – all well-known pornographic titles. As if the implication wasn’t clear enough, a cat is rolling on the floor as if in heat.

While King Louis Napoleon became a beloved monarch during his short reign of Holland (1806-1810), his queen Hortense spent as much time away as possible. They had an unhappy marriage. Perhaps the Dutch people could forgive “Louis the Good” for being Napoleon’s brother – apparently, they could not forgive Hortense’s absenteeism or her close relationship with her stepfather, the Emperor. In this cartoon, the Emperor’s portrait (a Roman bust) on the fireplace seems to cast a meaningful glance at Hortense…

(*) Note: “Het Cabinet der Dames” – “The Ladies’ Cabinet” – is a Dutch translation of a popular French book, either “Le Cabinet des Dames” or “L’Académie des Dames”. The former is a compilation of recipes for cosmetics, perfumes and women’s remedies. The latter, which would be more in keeping with the other two titles in this cartoon, is again a libertine book.