Spotprent over de Pruisische politiek, 1863 1863

"Spotprent over de Pruisische politiek" is a political cartoon by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, created in 1863. The artwork satirizes Prussian politics, depicting a scene within the Prussian Chamber of Deputies. A group of armed men stand behind a man holding a sword while a politician, the "Voorsitter" (chairman), rings a bell. The sword symbolizes military power, and the bell represents parliamentary authority. The title and caption of the cartoon indicate a commentary on the relationship between military power and parliamentary proceedings in Prussia during the 1860s, a time of significant political change in the region. Crans' use of caricature, a common element of political cartoons, highlights the absurdity of the situation and the artist's critical viewpoint.