Spotprent over de Waterloo-feesten, 1865 1865

This is a caricature on paper made in 1865 by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, and it depicts a lion splayed out atop a pedestal with a celestial sphere hovering above it. The lion, often a symbol of strength, royalty and pride, is here shown in an almost comical, vulnerable posture. In antiquity, lions guarded temple entrances, embodying divine power, a tradition echoed in medieval heraldry across Europe. Notice how the dates surrounding the image suggest specific historical events that contribute to its symbolic weight, contrasting with the lion's playful demeanor. Think of the ‘Atlas’ as used by the Greeks, bearing the weight of the heavens, versus this lion’s care-free position. This inversion makes us wonder: does this lion represent a decline in power, or a shift in the collective psyche? Perhaps this is a cultural commentary on the transience of power and the cyclical nature of history, playing out on the grand stage of human events.