Spotprent op de ministeriële krisis, 1874 1874

This lithograph, made by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans in 1874, captures a ministerial crisis in the form of a derailed horse-drawn tram. The lithographic process itself is key. It’s a printmaking technique that relies on the tension between grease and water, using a stone or metal plate to transfer an image. Here, the graphic quality lends itself to the cartoonish subject matter. The cross-hatching gives the image a sense of depth and shadow, but also emphasizes the precariousness of the situation. Notice how the lines of the tracks are skewed and disrupted, mirroring the political turmoil. The choice of lithography speaks to the wider social context: its accessibility allowed for mass production and dissemination of political commentary. It’s not just an artwork; it’s a form of social critique, made possible by industrial methods. By considering the material and its making, we see how this print engages with broader issues of labor, politics, and consumption, blurring the lines between art and social commentary.