Spotprent op de anti-onderwijsbeweging, 1868 1867

This print was made in 1868 by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, using a process of lithography. This was a relatively new method at the time, one that allowed for the quick reproduction of images. The print depicts three candles, each representing a different level of education, being snuffed out or trimmed. The tools being used are labeled with terms related to political agitation and amendments. The image works through the stark contrast of light and darkness. The making of prints like this, by definition, creates multiples, and aligns with political messaging. Consider the labor involved: not just the artist's hand, but also the work of the printer, and the distribution of the image. It speaks to the wider social issue of access to education, a burning issue at the time, and perhaps now as well. Appreciating the print means recognizing how its materiality is inseparable from its social purpose.