Spotprent over de inkomstenbelasting, 1872 1872

Editor: This is a pen engraving from 1872, titled "Spotprent over de inkomstenbelasting, 1872" or "Cartoon about Income Tax, 1872" by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans. It seems to depict a man riding a sled labelled "income tax" on a rooftop. How do you interpret this work? Curator: What strikes me is the critical lens it offers onto power structures of the time. The figure riding the “income tax” sled likely represents someone in authority, perhaps a politician, seemingly benefiting from a system that's taxing the buildings underneath. Think about who bore the brunt of taxation in 1872. Who was literally "underneath" the system? Editor: I see what you mean! It’s not just a simple joke about taxes; it’s a commentary on who benefits and who doesn't. Curator: Exactly. And note the artist's choice to use a 'realistic' style to create a caricature. Does it remind you of how political cartoons function today, reflecting and shaping public discourse on equity and fairness? Editor: That makes perfect sense. It’s like seeing how relevant those concerns about power dynamics still are, just repackaged in a different visual form. I learned so much. Curator: And hopefully you have a new perspective on how art has consistently challenged us to confront social injustices, and contemplate our roles within these systems.