De herstemming te Groningen Possibly 1897

Willem van Konijnenburg created this work called ‘De herstemming te Groningen’, or ‘The Revote in Groningen’. It was reproduced from ‘De Kroniek’ in June of 1890. The cartoon depicts a scene where men are cleaning or scrubbing a wall. A sign on the wall is partially obscured, with only the words ‘Drukkerij’ and ‘Societeit’ being clearly visible. This image reflects the complex political climate of the Netherlands at the end of the 19th century. Konijnenburg, who would become a prominent figure in Dutch symbolism, here uses visual satire to comment on contemporary issues. The act of cleaning or erasing in the cartoon could symbolize an attempt to cleanse or change a particular political message, perhaps to silence dissenting voices in the print industry. The idea of scrubbing away the old to make way for the new could symbolize the cultural shifts of the time. The act of revote reflects the emotional weight of political change, capturing a sense of hope and the inherent tensions it brings to society.