Gedenkzuil voor Mr. D. Donker Curtius, 1864 1864

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans created this print in 1864. It commemorates the Dutch abolition of corporal punishment, represented by a monument to the politician D. Donker Curtius. The image creates meaning through culturally specific visual codes. Monuments themselves are of course physical assertions of political ideology. More specifically, the text refers to the "abolition of inhuman corporal punishments,” such as branding. It also includes the phrase "the printing press is the queen of the earth," a possible reference to the role of the press in advocating for these reforms. The print is a product of its time, reflecting the values and beliefs of a society grappling with issues of human rights and social justice. Schmidt Crans was a member of several art societies including Arti et Amicitiae, which held exhibitions, awarded prizes, and offered its members a sense of community. Understanding this print requires an awareness of Dutch political history, enlightenment thinking, and the role of art institutions in shaping public opinion.