Spotprent op de belasting op steenkolen, 1860 1860

This political cartoon, made in 1860 by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, employs symbols to comment on the coal tax. Observe the central figure, the Dutch Maiden, representing the Netherlands, her posture and attire reflecting a state of burden. Next to her, a seated lion, a national symbol, appears subdued, weighed down, mirroring the nation's plight under heavy taxation. These symbols aren't isolated; consider the "Spaarweg Kaart" (railway savings card) placed on the table, emphasizing the economic strain. The railway suggests progress, but here it seems stalled by financial constraints. The motif of the burdened national figure echoes across time and cultures, appearing in ancient allegories and Renaissance personifications. The emotional weight of national identity combines with financial suffering, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level, where collective memory and shared anxieties converge.