Spotprent over de opkomst van de petroleumlamp, 1863 1863

This is "Spotprent over de opkomst van de petroleumlamp," a cartoon made in 1863 by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, depicting the rise of the petroleum lamp. This Dutch political cartoon captures the anxieties and excitement of the industrial revolution. It’s a moment where new technologies fundamentally reshaped daily life and power dynamics. The artist uses anthropomorphic lamps to stage a battle between old and new lighting technologies. Look closely, you can see how the older oil lamps appear fearful and are being chased away by the newer, brighter petroleum lamps. Consider the social context: the advent of petroleum lamps democratized light, making it more accessible to the masses. In doing so, it challenged traditional hierarchies where light, and therefore knowledge and power, was concentrated amongst the wealthy. This cartoon thus embodies a pivotal shift, illuminating not just spaces, but also altering social structures. There is a sense of both progress and loss as society moves towards new forms of energy and enlightenment.