Spotprent op een verbod op het ranselen van ezels, 1863 1863

This is a satirical print by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, made in 1863 using ink on paper. It depicts a policeman and a bird standing in front of a building. The stark lines of the ink create a sense of immediacy and highlight the absurdity of the scene. This aesthetic owes much to the speed and relative low cost of printmaking. The lines are spare and efficient, not unlike the bureaucracy that is being satirized, and seem to comment on social issues of the time. The print captures a specific historical moment. This artwork uses the visual language of caricature to offer social commentary, reflecting the growing importance of mass media and political discourse in the 19th century. The mode of production makes this widespread consumption possible. The focus on materials, making, and context allows us to see how seemingly simple images can be powerful tools for social critique. The artist creates layers of meaning within the work.