Spotprent op het ontslag van Thorbecke en zijn ministers, 1872 1872

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans created this print in 1872 to comment on the resignation of Thorbecke and his ministers. The central figure, presumably Thorbecke, is seated, surrounded by his colleagues. Books are scattered on the floor, suggesting a disruption of scholarly order. Consider the gesture of the figure by the window, seemingly looking outward, away from the group. This motif of the 'outward gaze' appears throughout art history, often signifying longing, introspection, or a turning away from immediate circumstances. We see echoes of this in Romantic paintings, where figures stand at the precipice of nature, contemplating the sublime. The fallen books evoke a sense of abandonment and disorder—a symbolic representation of the intellectual and political disruption caused by the resignation. This image resonates with the cyclical nature of history, as similar symbols of disarray and transition recur across diverse cultural narratives. The emotional undercurrent here is palpable, inviting us to reflect on themes of change, loss, and the perpetual human quest for meaning amidst upheaval.