Effecten / Goederen 1845

This small, anonymous print presents a symbolic balancing act between 'Effecten,' or stocks, and 'Goederen,' meaning goods or commodities. It invites us to consider the shifting values in a society increasingly driven by trade and speculation. The artwork suggests a cultural moment of transition, where traditional forms of wealth are being weighed against the burgeoning world of finance. The stark imagery evokes the anxieties and uncertainties of the time. An allegorical figure of Justice stands precariously atop a sphere, holding the scales. On one side, a gentleman sits amidst papers, representing stocks. On the other side, a commoner sits with a glass in a barrel of goods. The print captures the delicate equilibrium of the social order, suggesting the precariousness of wealth and the potential for imbalance. This piece resonates with contemporary concerns about economic inequality, reminding us of the human element that is often obscured by financial abstractions.