Spotprent 1877

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans created this print, sometime in the late 1870s, as a commentary on Dutch financial policy. It reflects a period of significant economic and political change in the Netherlands. The cartoon depicts a man displaying a bag labeled 'Batice Sloten', suggesting closed or failed ventures. This imagery speaks to themes of economic uncertainty and failed promises. The inscription translates to: ‘My lords there is nothing left in it; it is all at the bottom of the barrel… to the new loan’ Crans invites us to consider questions of accountability and governance. He compels us to reflect on whose voices and experiences are often marginalized or ignored in representations of national identity and progress. Ultimately, this print serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between economic policy, societal well-being, and political representation. It leaves us to reflect on the emotional and personal dimensions of financial and political decisions.