Spotprent op de heersende velocipèdewoede, 1869 1869

This print, made in 1869 by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, depicts soldiers on velocipedes, humorously suggesting they could replace horses in the military. Here, the bicycle, a modern invention, is juxtaposed with traditional symbols of military power: swords, cannons, and formal uniforms. This clash echoes similar instances throughout history where new technologies disrupt established orders. Think of the printing press challenging the authority of hand-copied texts or the automobile displacing horse-drawn carriages. The image’s humor stems from the absurdity of these soldiers attempting to wage war on bicycles, a scene that elicits both amusement and perhaps a hint of anxiety about technological disruption. This tension between old and new can be seen as a reflection of collective anxieties present at the time. The underlying psychological impact of the artwork is the fear that these machines, conceived to help us, are instead making us ridiculous. Ultimately, this print serves as a reminder that progress is never linear, but cyclical. The symbols of innovation and tradition constantly reshape each other, creating a dynamic interplay that drives cultural evolution.