Spotprent op de afschaffing van het zegel op gedrukte stukken, 1868 1867

This satirical cartoon, titled "Spotprent op de afschaffing van het zegel op gedrukte stukken" (Cartoon on the abolition of the stamp on printed documents), was created by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans in 1867. The artwork depicts a humorous scene with an owl perched on a chair, an older woman in a cap, and a standing man dressed in military attire. The woman represents the stamp tax, and she is shown struggling to hold onto her bags of money as the man, likely symbolizing progress, tries to convince her to let go. The owl, often associated with wisdom, appears to be watching the interaction with amusement, suggesting that the abolition of the tax is a positive change. The work is a fine example of caricature and political satire, prevalent in 19th-century Dutch art.