Spotprent over de kamerdebatten, 1885 1885

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans made this print in 1885. The print depicts two men, presumably workers in the Dutch parliament buildings, gossiping about the representatives' work on a constitutional reform. The print appeared as part of a series called "Kamerdebatten Extra Muros", or "Parliamentary Debates Outside the Walls," that provided commentary on the political events of the day. It was a time when the Netherlands was undergoing significant social and political changes, including debates around electoral reform. We can assume that the artist, Schmidt Crans, intended to criticize the representatives. Through the image, we can see that they have their own agendas and are more concerned with their personal gains than with the good of the country. In order to better understand this print, we might look at Dutch political history and popular culture, including the role of media in shaping public opinion. Art is always contingent on social and institutional context.