The Anatomy Lesson

This political poster critiques the Dutch government’s indecisive approach during the early stages of Indonesia’s independence movement. The text urges, “Don’t negotiate (...) act (...)! Dutch, stop that cutting! The Kingdom must not be destroyed by its own policies.” By referencing The Anatomy Lesson, a famous image of dissection, it metaphorically warns that endless political “cutting” and negotiation risk tearing apart the Dutch kingdom from within. The inclusion of figures like Soekarno and Van Mook reflects the heated tensions between Indonesian nationalism and Dutch colonial authority during the decolonization period.