Spotprent over de overname van de Goudkust door de Britten, 1869 1869

This is Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans’s 1869 cartoon about the British takeover of the Dutch Gold Coast. It offers a window into the complex colonial history of the 19th century. The cartoon depicts a woman, symbolizing the Netherlands, standing before a map of Guinea. Her downcast gaze and crossed arms suggest resignation. The dog beside her seems to mirror her melancholic mood. The text translates to “no wreckage... and what is the point of more sacrifices by our people, it is better to leave that country to its fate.” This image reflects a pivotal moment when the Netherlands ceded control of its Gold Coast colony to Britain, a decision tinged with disillusionment. Crans captures the emotional weight of this transition, inviting us to reflect on the human cost of colonial ventures.