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

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans created this print, "Cartoon on the Failed Heating Device of the Ministry of Colonies," in 1862. It critiques Dutch colonial policies, and the human cost of these policies, through the depiction of a cumbersome, failed "heating device" being moved, likely on "May 1st Moving Day" a traditional day for Dutch families to relocate. The "heating device" represents the Ministry of Colonies’ ineffective policies, failing to provide warmth or comfort, suggesting the ministry's inability to provide for those under its control. This failure disproportionately affected colonized populations, who bore the brunt of exploitation and neglect. The contrast between "Kolonien" and "Invaliden Huis Bronbeek" (Home for Invalids) is striking; the promise of colonial riches versus the reality of broken bodies and lives. There is a deep sense of irony and social commentary embedded in the emotional charge of the print. It serves as a reminder of the human consequences of political decisions. Crans’ cartoon challenges viewers to reflect on the ethical implications of colonialism.