De Notenkraker, 23 november 1907 / Verjaardag-overpeinzing Possibly 1907 - 1923

This is Albert Hahn's satirical cartoon from the Dutch political magazine "De Notenkraker" - The Nutcracker - published on November 23, 1907. Hahn was a Social Democratic artist known for his sharp critiques of the wealthy and powerful in the Netherlands. Here, we see a well-to-do man, in a decorative dressing gown, contemplatively smoking a pipe while gazing at a picture of Christ carrying the cross. The cartoon challenges the hypocrisy of the privileged class who claim to follow Christian values, yet live lives of comfort and luxury, far removed from the suffering and sacrifice embodied by Christ. The caption translates to: "In earlier centuries, the unbelievers at least gave the Christians the opportunity to carry their cross. They force me to keep walking with a maiden's pin." This clever word play highlights the perceived superficiality and idleness of the upper class, suggesting they are only burdened with trivial matters, rather than genuine hardship. Hahn's work uses humor to expose the contradictions within Dutch society, encouraging viewers to reflect on the inequalities of wealth and power during the early 20th century.