Spotprent op het Meteorologisch Instituut te Utrecht, 1863 1863

This print, made in 1863 by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, is a lithograph, a printing technique that allows for detailed images using a flat stone or metal plate. The medium itself is significant here. Lithography allowed for mass production of images, which meant that satirical commentary like this could reach a wide audience. The focus is the Meteorological Institute in Utrecht, and the humor lies in the contrast between scientific prediction and the unpredictable reality of the weather. The fine lines and shading, typical of lithography, create a detailed scene. We see a professor at his desk, seemingly oblivious to the stork crashing into the window, an absurd image that underscores the limitations of even the most advanced scientific methods. The print serves as a wry commentary on the relationship between science, nature, and the human desire to control the uncontrollable. The choice of a mass-producible medium emphasizes the intention to engage with a broad public, making it a potent form of social critique.