Satire op de aansporing tot deelneming in de (zogenaamde) vrijwillige 3% geldlening van 1844 (blad 2) 1844

This lithograph, created in 1844 by Herman Frederik Carel ten Kate, uses ink on paper to offer a satirical commentary. Its composition is structured around a series of vignettes accompanied by text, creating a visual and textual collage. The stark contrast of black ink against the white paper creates a visual hierarchy, drawing the eye to specific details within each scene. Ten Kate employs caricature to destabilize the official narrative surrounding the voluntary 3% loan of 1844. Note the figures engrossed in financial dealings, juxtaposed with images of apparent destitution. The artist uses a semiotic system where certain images such as a man burdened by debt, come to signify the potential pitfalls of engaging with state-sponsored financial schemes. Ultimately, the detailed linework and careful arrangement of scenes within the print function as a form of visual rhetoric, challenging the perceived stability and trustworthiness of the state's financial incentives. The artwork prompts a re-evaluation of power structures and economic narratives prevalent at the time.