Spotprent over de groei van aantal dagbladen na de afschaffing van het dagbladzegel, 1869 1869

This print by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, made in 1869, captures the proliferation of newspapers following the abolishment of the Dutch newspaper tax. Dominating the scene, we see a figure walking amidst a field where newspapers sprout like mushrooms. The newspapers, bearing titles, symbolize the rapid growth and spread of information. This imagery taps into a collective anxiety: the fear of being overwhelmed by the uncontrollable dissemination of news. Across cultures, the mushroom has symbolized rapid growth. Here, the artist plays on this symbolism, evoking a sense of unease. It's a visual metaphor that transcends time, reminiscent of ancient allegories where nature reflects the human condition. It reflects a deep-seated human fear—the fear of being overtaken by something beyond our control. The rapid growth of media becomes a mirror, reflecting our own anxieties about progress.