Spotprent met minister Heemskerk als Faust, 1866 1866

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans’ satirical print *Spotprent met minister Heemskerk als Faust* (1866) depicts a caricature of Dutch minister Heemskerk as the iconic literary character Faust, engulfed in a cloud of smoke and fire. The smoke, labeled "Schoolwet-agitatie," symbolizes the heated debate surrounding the 1866 education law, highlighting the controversy surrounding the proposed changes. Heemskerk is seen conjuring the word “Shibolet” from the smoke, a reference to the biblical story of the Gileadites, demonstrating the division and animosity surrounding the law. The image's use of symbolism and caricature effectively captured the contentious atmosphere of the era.