Spotprent met de commissie van enquête, 1887 1887

This is a print made in 1887 by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans. Its black lines and hatched textures were produced through the technique of lithography – printing from a flat stone surface. Here, the artist deployed this readily available and reproducible medium to deliver a pointed political message. The committee is depicted seated around a table, appearing to listen to a man gesturing towards a map. Through the medium of lithography, Schmidt Crans captured the scene with sharp detail. The stark lines emphasize the contrast between the speaker and the committee, highlighting the social and political dynamics at play. The use of lithography, with its capacity for mass production, enabled the widespread distribution of this commentary, engaging a broad audience in the social issues of the time. Prints like this challenge the distinction between fine art and craft, by showing how an inexpensive medium can be the vehicle for astute social commentary.