Spotprent op de terugkeer van Thorbecke in de Tweede Kamer, 1866 1866

This print, "Spotprent op de terugkeer van Thorbecke in de Tweede Kamer," was created in 1866 by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans. The work uses line to create a classical scene of Ulysses' return, but with a contemporary political twist. The linear composition and simplified forms draw the eye to the two figures, whose gestures create a formal balance. Schmidt Crans evokes the classical world to comment on Dutch politics. The setting, with its Greek key patterns, standard lamp, and classical chair, serves as a stage for the drama of return and recognition. Ulysses, labeled here as 'de heer T.', is welcomed by Penelope, the 'Nederl. Maagd'. The artist uses the semiotic weight of classical imagery to elevate and perhaps critique the political figures of his time. The choice of a return narrative destabilizes fixed notions of power, suggesting cycles of political life. This print functions as a cultural commentary, using the visual language of classicism to engage with contemporary issues of leadership and national identity.