Politieke spotprent, 1888 1888

Editor: This is a political cartoon from 1888, drawn by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans. It seems to be an ink drawing, perhaps a print. It looks like a comic strip and the figures have shields and swords. I wonder what's going on with those shields? How do you interpret this work? Curator: Given its date and medium—a printed drawing made with ink—it's important to consider the means of production. The printing process allowed for widespread distribution of political ideas. What’s intriguing is how the artist utilizes materials to satirize power. Notice the shields they bear. “Rome”, “Stemrecht,” the shields aren't simply defensive, they're emblazoned with political statements of that period in Dutch and French, suggesting that political views are being marketed and defended with as much force as weaponry in antiquity. The text tells more of the historical period. Editor: That makes sense. So the choice of a classical battle scene reflects something about 19th-century political struggles? Curator: Exactly. The artist utilizes readily available and reproducible materials – ink and printing press – to address issues that go beyond “high art,” engaging directly with social and political life of the time. Are these issues of power and authority so far removed from conflicts today? Editor: So, looking at it this way makes it more than just a funny drawing. It really shows how materials and methods shape the political message. I guess I usually look at these as quaint, but it makes more sense when looking at it this way. Curator: Precisely. Examining art this way invites us to look past the surface and reflect upon the labor, distribution and impact involved in creating the piece.