Spotprent op het mislukte verwarmingstoestel van het Ministerie van Koloniën, 1862 1862

This 1862 satirical lithograph, "Spotprent op het mislukte verwarmingstoestel van het Ministerie van Koloniën", by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, depicts a comical scene where a group of people are attempting to transport a malfunctioning heating system. The oversized contraption, labeled "Verwarmingstoestel" is clearly a source of amusement, as the men struggle to move it. The caption, "1 Mei, Verhuisdag", references the May 1st holiday, a date for moving homes in the Netherlands, suggesting the ineffective heating system is a burden for the intended recipient, likely the "Invalidenhuis Bronbeek". This humorous commentary on a practical problem, likely the failings of the Colonial Department, exemplifies Crans' ability to capture contemporary society's absurdities through caricature.