Spotprent op de Nieuwe Gids, 1885 1885

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans created this print, titled "Spotprent op de Nieuwe Gids", in 1885 in the Netherlands. It presents a satirical commentary on the Dutch literary journal "De Nieuwe Gids," or "The New Guide," using the visual metaphor of infancy. The image depicts a man, presumably a member of the older, established literary journal "De Gids," gazing upon a baby lying in a crib labeled "Nieuwe Gids." This suggests the new journal is young and inexperienced. In his hand he holds a copy of "De Gids". The Dutch context is important here: “De Nieuwe Gids” represented a revolt against the older journal's traditionalism, advocating for a new, more modern literary style. This print reflects the social and institutional dynamics within the Dutch literary scene at the time, with the established guard critiquing the upstart "Nieuwe Gids." To fully understand its meaning, one could research the history of these journals, the debates around literary style, and the broader cultural shifts occurring in the Netherlands in the late 19th century. Artworks like this are cultural documents, revealing how institutions shape artistic production.