Verkiezingen van 1925 1925

Patricq Kroon made this pen and ink drawing titled 'Elections of 1925'. It’s a work steeped in the political climate of the Netherlands. The cartoon uses visual codes to communicate its meaning: On the left, a figure peers nervously from behind a door labeled “Parliamentary Children's Room.” The central figure, a scowling man with a pitchfork, represents perhaps the common man. He carries a bag labeled "1925 Elections" and a clock that reads "Hora Est," Latin for "The Hour is at Hand.” This was a period of social change, including debates about women's suffrage, the role of the church, and the rights of workers. To understand this image, we need to look at the history of Dutch politics and the visual language of political cartoons. Kroon’s pointed critique likely aimed to challenge the social structures of the time. Historians use a range of resources like newspapers, political pamphlets, and institutional records to understand the context in which art is made. By understanding the social and institutional contexts, we can gain insights into the ways that artists like Kroon commented on the world around them.