Pers krijgt belasting op advertenties opgelegd 1870

This lithograph by Honoré Daumier, now at the Rijksmuseum, captures the burden of taxation on the press in France, where we see the symbolic figure of "La Presse" struggling under the weight of a sack labeled "Impôt sur les Annonces" – a tax on advertisements. Note how Daumier links this figure to the classical motif of Atlas, eternally condemned to carry the world on his shoulders. This is an image that echoes across time, from ancient sculptures to Renaissance depictions, symbolizing endurance and suffering under immense pressure. Here, the weight is not the world but censorship and financial strain, a burden imposed by political powers. Consider the emotional impact: the drooping posture, the strained expression, the sheer physical exertion. It evokes a sense of empathy, engaging us on a visceral level with the struggles faced by the press. The cyclical nature of power and resistance continues, as this image, with its potent symbolism, resurfaces in various forms, reflecting ongoing struggles for freedom of expression.