De Notenkraker, 14 december 1907 / De liberale vrijheid te Krommenie Possibly 1907 - 1914

This lithograph was made in the Netherlands, on December 14th, 1907, by Albert Hahn, and it appeared on the front page of the socialist weekly magazine, “De Notenkraker.” The image offers a searing critique of the social conditions of its time. Hahn uses visual codes to depict the relationship between the capitalist class and the working class. The factory owner looms large, with a sinister grin, his hands forming a platform upon which the workers march into the factory. The smoke stacks billow in the background, obscuring the sky. The illustration references the geography of the Netherlands, which was rapidly industrializing at the time. The text accompanying the image reinforces the critique of capitalism, highlighting the exploitation of workers. To understand this work better, one might research the history of socialism in the Netherlands, the socio-economic conditions of the working class, and the role of satirical magazines in shaping public opinion. Ultimately, the meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.