Spotprent op het optreden van het conservatieve ministerie Heemskerk-Mijer, 1866 1866

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans made this print in 1866, employing the graphic technique of etching, a process intimately tied to the rise of mass media. By incising lines into a metal plate, inking the surface, and then pressing it onto paper, the artist was able to create multiple impressions efficiently. Here, that reproductive capacity is leveraged to satirical effect. Look closely at the image: what appears to be happening in a grocer’s shop is actually a commentary on Dutch politics. Crans uses labels on the cans – ‘Conserve Myer’ and ‘Borre’ – to evoke the conservative Heemskerk-Mijer ministry, a key target of criticism. The print medium allows for the circulation of this visual critique far beyond the confines of the art world, and the clever wordplay ensures that the message is both humorous and biting. So, the next time you see a print, remember that the materials and techniques used are not just about aesthetics. They are often deeply connected to social critique and the distribution of ideas, challenging our notions of fine art and craft.