Sam van Houten en het fascisme 1920 - 1930

Patricq Kroon made this pen drawing, ‘Sam van Houten en het fascisme,’ referencing the Dutch politician. The image critiques the rise of fascism, likely made in the interwar period. Sam van Houten is depicted as an elderly, almost Biblical figure, trudging forward and carrying a banner that reads ‘Fascism’. The papers at his feet seem to reference the political discourse and debate surrounding him, and the figure appears to be weighed down by the burden of this ideology. The Netherlands, like many European nations, experienced intense political debate during this period. Kroon’s caricature is a political statement on the rise of authoritarianism, reflecting the anxieties of the time. By studying the political cartoons and publications of this period, we can better understand the social and institutional contexts that shaped not only this drawing, but also the broader response to fascism.