Spotprent 1878

This print was made in 1878 by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans. It shows a tower with a man looking out of the window. The numbers falling from the tower window and the title "In den Schoonmaaktijd" suggest a time of cleaning and change. This print likely comments on the political or social climate of the Netherlands at the time. The falling numbers perhaps represent statistics or data, implying that the government's affairs are no longer about mere numbers. The dead ducks that are present in the lower section of the print are probably a metaphor for something else. To understand the cartoon fully, we would need to delve into the political history of the Netherlands in the late 1870s. Researching political debates, government policies, and social issues of the time would shed light on the print's meaning and provide insight into Crans's critique of Dutch society. The social role of political satire is to foster public discourse and question those in power.