De arme draagt de rijke 1685

"De arme draagt de rijke" (The poor carries the rich) is an etching by Italian artist Giuseppe Maria Mitelli, created in 1685. The etching portrays a satirical scene of a wealthy man, adorned with a feathered hat and playing a lute, being carried on the back of a struggling, bare-footed man. This artwork, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, exemplifies the social commentary and artistic style prevalent in 17th-century Europe, offering a glimpse into the class divide of the era through its biting humor and detailed, expressive lines.