Spotprent op de houding van de conservatieven bij de herziening van het kiestabel, 1869 1869

This is a print made by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans in 1869, a satirical commentary on the stance of conservatives regarding the revision of the electoral table in the Netherlands. The image cleverly uses visual codes to critique the political landscape. We see a wolf dressed as a shepherd, a clear reference to Aesop's fables, symbolizing deception. This wolf guards a flock of sheep, representing the electorate, while a smaller dog looks on suspiciously, perhaps representing the watchful press. The sword suggests the conservatives' militaristic undertones and undemocratic power. The Netherlands in 1869 was grappling with significant political reforms. The revision of the kiestabel, or electoral table, aimed to broaden suffrage, a move resisted by conservatives. This artwork critiques the conservatives' wolf-in-sheep's-clothing approach, exposing their resistance to change under the guise of safeguarding traditional values. Understanding such art requires delving into the political pamphlets and parliamentary debates of the time. Only through contextual research can we fully grasp the artist’s critique and its resonance within the social and institutional dynamics of the era.