Spotprent op de herziening van de Schoolwet, 1867 1867

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans made this print in 1867, using etching, a printmaking technique that employs acid to corrode the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design. The fineness of the etched lines gives the image an open, airy feel, despite its satirical subject matter. The artist would have covered a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, drawn the image into the wax with a sharp needle to reveal the metal, and then bathed the plate in acid. This biting process creates the grooves that hold the ink for printing. The print critiques the revision of the School Act, portraying political figures as balloon sellers at a "Vanity Fair," with each balloon representing different aspects of the debate. The act of etching itself involves a degree of labor and precision, mirroring the careful consideration needed in policy-making. In this context, the etching process serves as a fitting medium to express and disseminate a political opinion, bridging the gap between artistic skill, social commentary, and the prevailing issues of the time.