Spotprent met allerlei metalen voorwerpen, 1863 1863

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans created this political print in 1863, likely as a commentary on the state of Dutch politics and society at the time. The print presents a complex, multi-layered image filled with symbolism. The dark figure standing atop the pyramid embodies the fraught racial politics of the colonial era. The figure is holding a knife and chain, suggesting a struggle for liberation. The figures underneath, who appear to be white men, appear to represent the foundations of Dutch society. At the base we see symbols of justice, freedom, and power. The spiked crown and shield of anonymity speak to the tensions between authority and individual rights. This print is not just a snapshot of a moment in time, but an emotionally charged statement on power, identity, and the legacies of colonialism. It questions whose stories are being told and whose voices are being amplified.