Spotprent met minister Heemskerk als Faust, 1866 1866

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans made this print in 1866. It depicts the Dutch Minister Heemskerk as Faust, conjuring ‘school law agitation’ from a stove inscribed with ‘shibboleth’. This image offers a window into the tumultuous debates surrounding education in the Netherlands at the time. The school law was a highly contested issue, dividing society along religious and political lines. Crans uses the figure of Faust, a character from German folklore who makes a deal with the devil, to critique Heemskerk's actions and the perceived negative consequences of his policies. The word ‘shibboleth’, a term used to distinguish between groups of people, highlights the divisive nature of the school law debate. By drawing on cultural references and visual codes, Crans effectively conveys his political message and invites viewers to question the social structures of his time. Art historians often use archival sources, political pamphlets, and newspaper articles to further understand such period-specific references. This helps us appreciate how deeply art is embedded in its contemporary society.