Spotprent over amendementen tot vermindering van het budget van oorlog, 1867 1867

This caricature was created by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans in 1867. The work, rendered in thin, deliberate lines, is dominated by a clear structure of spatial organization. In the foreground, a seated allegorical figure commands attention, her gaze directed towards the right. Behind her, a picket fence creates a barrier, a visual motif that also represents the socio-political themes of the artwork. Soldiers stand at attention, each figure delineated with precise strokes, which conveys a rigid sense of order. To the left, geometric forms of structures, possibly fortifications, add depth to the composition. The use of line and form is not merely descriptive. It engages with contemporary debates about governance, as it critiques the balance between military spending and public welfare. The overall effect is a carefully constructed argument that challenges fixed meanings and invites ongoing dialogue.