Spotprent met Bismarck en Heemskerk, 1886 1886

This is a political cartoon by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, created in 1886, using an unknown medium. In this image, we see Bismarck, the German Chancellor, depicted as a prince, being presented with a bill after a ‘salmon treaty’ meal. The Dutch Minister Heemskerk stands beside him, suggesting the Prince pay by setting aside the literal treaty. The cartoon reflects the complex relationship between the Netherlands and Germany, where economic and political interests were often negotiated through symbolic gestures and agreements. The setting in a restaurant, a space of consumption and transaction, highlights how these negotiations often came down to material concerns. This work encourages us to reflect on the performative aspects of diplomacy and the underlying tensions between nations.