Spotprent op de beperkte vrijheid van meningsuiting voor de humorist, 1860 1860

This print, made in 1860 by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, shows us the plight of the humorist. It’s a fairly straightforward lithograph, meaning it was drawn with a grease crayon on a slab of Bavarian limestone, which was then chemically treated so that ink would adhere only to the drawn lines. But what I find most interesting is the way the artist uses that relatively simple process to take on issues of labor and class. Look at how the jester is chained to a post, silenced for his wit. Around him we see symbols of authority: a book titled “Basic Law,” crowns, and figures representing the church and the state. The humorist’s clothing is also telling. The wooden shoes suggest he’s a common person, someone close to the land. Yet, he’s being oppressed by those in power. The lithographic process itself, with its capacity for relatively easy reproduction, aligns with the democratization of ideas. It becomes a tool for social commentary. This work isn’t just a drawing; it’s a statement about the power of the press and the importance of free expression.