Spotprent op de minister van Koloniën, 1863 1863

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans created this print in 1863 using line and hatching to create shading and volume. The design features a chariot, a driver and two horses. The initial impression is one of imbalance and strain. The composition is structured around a stark contrast. The chariot, labeled 'Minister of Colonies,' is being pulled by two horses named 'Cultuur' and 'Free Labour'. The horses represent the forced labour and free labour used in the Dutch colonies. The tension in the drawing lies in the dynamic between the figures pulling in different directions which suggests irreconcilable forces within colonial policy. The lack of balance evident in the piece prompts us to consider how visual elements convey ideological tensions. Crans uses this imbalance to comment on colonial governance and the moral questions surrounding labour practices. This artwork invites us to critically consider the relationship between representation, power, and ethics in visual culture.