Spotprent met een ooievaar, 1886 1886

This political cartoon by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, made in 1886, features a large stork standing next to a bottle labeled "Suiker"—or sugar. The stork, often a symbol of birth and new beginnings, here takes on a more ominous presence. This imagery reminds me of ancient Egyptian art, where animals were imbued with symbolic significance, representing gods or embodying certain characteristics. The stork in this cartoon evokes such totemic associations but is clearly used here to satirize. The juxtaposition of the stork with the sugar bottle suggests a commentary on economic or political issues related to sugar production or trade. The image evokes a psychological tension, a sense of unease beneath the surface. The artist taps into a collective memory, where the stork is not merely a bird, but a bearer of complex cultural messages, now twisted for political critique. This interplay between symbol and satire is what truly engages us, revealing how deeply ingrained cultural symbols can be repurposed to reflect contemporary concerns.