Spotprent op de voortgang van het WNT, 1871 1871

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans made this print, "Spotprent op de voortgang van het WNT," in 1871. The Dutch title refers to the progress of the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal or Dictionary of the Dutch Language. This image creates meaning through visual codes and cultural references. Schmidt Crans likely critiqued the institutions of art and learning in this cartoon published in the Netherlands. The figure on the left is Saint Nicholas, who says to the writers of the dictionary, "Friend, you already have the A and the O, here I give you the other vowels." As social historians, we could better understand this piece of art if we researched the cultural and political context surrounding the Woordenboek. This dictionary may have been a unifying cultural symbol. It is also possible to look at similar cartoons from this period to better understand how the public perceived it. The meaning of art depends greatly on its social and institutional context.