Spotprent op het ontslag van gouverneur-generaal Mortanges, 1861 1861

This political print by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans from 1861 employs Christian iconography to comment on the dismissal of Governor-General Mortanges. Here, a large cross looms in the sky, bearing down upon a boat carrying two figures, with a sinking barrel-like object to the left and a building with a flag to the right. The cross, traditionally a symbol of salvation and authority, here seems to threaten those in the boat. Interestingly, we see echoes of the cross throughout art history, often wielding power and judgment, from triumphant depictions in Byzantine mosaics to its more ominous presence in Northern Renaissance paintings. The sinking barrel reminds us of the ever-present anxieties of instability and failed ventures. These symbols evoke a collective understanding of power, vulnerability, and the cyclical nature of fortune, tapping into our shared cultural psyche. They engage viewers on a subconscious level, stirring deep-seated emotions. In essence, the cross, barrel and boat motifs underscore a broader historical pattern, a non-linear progression in which old symbols resurface.