Politieke wip, 1830 1830 - 1831

This print, titled Politieke Wip, was made by an anonymous artist around 1830. It is made with ink on paper, a relatively inexpensive and widely available material at the time. The image depicts a political seesaw, with figures representing despotism, abuse, and hypocrisy being weighed against liberty, justice, and franchise. The artist uses the medium of printmaking, a method of mass production, to spread a political message. The lines are sharp and precise, allowing for detailed depictions of the figures and text within the image. The process of creating multiple copies democratizes the artwork, making it accessible to a wider audience beyond the elite. The very act of creating a print like this – a relatively inexpensive, easily circulated artifact – speaks to the political ferment of the time. This print blurs the lines between art and activism, using the power of image-making to engage with pressing social issues.