Spotprent op de doorgraving van Holland op zijn smalst, 1860 1860

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans created this print in 1860, and it reflects the Dutch perspective on global events. It's titled "Two Martyrdoms of Progress" and refers to the digging of Holland "at its narrowest." The cartoon features two female figures, one representing the Netherlands and the other representing Egypt, sitting opposite each other. The Dutchman carries a spade. In the background there are windmills on one side and pyramids on the other. In the foreground are stacked "measures" of cut that will slim down the countries. The print critiques the social and economic implications of these large-scale engineering projects. It's worth noting that, at the time, the Netherlands was a major colonial power with significant economic interests around the world. To fully understand this print, we might look into archives of political cartoons from the period. Understanding the institutional forces involved in international infrastructure projects can further illuminate the print’s meaning.