Spotprent op de afschaffing van belasting op brandstoffen, 1864 1864

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans created this print in 1864. The composition draws us into a scene viewed through an archway, where two figures dominate the foreground, their forms meticulously rendered with sharp lines and tonal gradations. This meticulous attention to detail directs our gaze into a politically charged narrative. The artist has used the semiotic system of dress codes to present social commentary through the figures of the two men. Their hats and clothing contrast the foreground with the background of civil unrest near the building. By placing these characters within the defined space of the archway, Schmidt Crans frames a narrative that destabilizes fixed meanings of power, governance, and public opinion. The stark contrast between light and shadow, achieved through delicate hatching and cross-hatching, functions as a powerful visual metaphor. It represents the precarious balance of governance, and speaks to larger philosophical concerns about the foundations of society.