De Notenkraker, 26 oktober 1907 / Na de vredesconferentie Possibly 1907 - 1926

This is the front cover of De Notenkraker, published in the Netherlands on 26 October 1907, with artwork by Albert Hahn. The image depicts Mars, the god of war, leaving a toilet, holding the 'Final Act of the Peace Conference'. The title, 'After the Peace Conference', and the image of Mars using the 'closet', as the Dutch has it, after the conference, suggests a satirical commentary on the ineffectiveness of peace efforts. This was a time when peace conferences were becoming more frequent, yet tensions between European powers were escalating, leading to the First World War. The artist is therefore using classical imagery to critique contemporary political events. To fully appreciate its meaning, one must consider the history of Dutch political cartoons and the specific context of the peace conferences of the early 20th century. Art history provides us with the resources and methods for understanding this image as a product of its time, reflecting the hopes and anxieties of a society on the brink of war.