Spotprent op de onderlinge verdeeldheid over de inkomstenbelasting, 1872 1872

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans created this print, titled 'Cartoon on the mutual division over income tax', in 1872. The print is a commentary on the social and political issues of the time. In this cartoon, Crans uses the tale of Pandora's box as a metaphor for the introduction of income tax. Pandora, a figure from Greek mythology known for releasing all kinds of evils into the world, is depicted opening a box labeled "Income Tax." From it emerge a series of societal ills and problems, rendered as scrolls and banners. These include "misunderstandings," "crisis," and "unfulfilled work," reflecting the artist's and likely the public's anxieties about the consequences of the new tax system. The artwork captures a moment of social tension and uncertainty, reflecting how policy decisions can unleash a series of unintended and often negative consequences on the population. The lone word 'hope' below the inscription on the box seems to act as a small consolation, though, for whom?