Spotprent op het bestuur van de Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen, 1860 1860

This satirical print by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, made in 1860, unveils a critique of the Royal Academy of Sciences. Note the act of ‘dubbing’ the artist with a spear, a gesture laden with symbolic weight harking back to medieval knighthoods and initiation rites. The spear, a phallic symbol of power and authority, is juxtaposed with the artist's feeble posture, creating a visual tension. We observe this motif across cultures, from the Roman hasta to the Celtic spear of Lugh, each embodying potency and dominance. Here, however, the spear seems to mock, highlighting the artist's perceived inadequacy before the academic establishment. The artist's gesture recalls the ‘adlocutio’ of Roman emperors, yet emptied of its intended strength. This visual discord invokes a sense of unease, engaging our subconscious understanding of power dynamics and cultural memory. It evokes a complex emotional response, questioning the true nature of authority and artistic recognition. The resonance of such symbols is non-linear, continually evolving as they resurface throughout history.