Eenmaal rijk stelt de mens zijn hoop op rijkdom 1550

Editor: So, this is "Once rich, man sets his hope on riches" by Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert, an engraving from around 1550. It's striking how clearly the figures are rendered; their muscles almost seem to bulge off the page. But the composition, with these three figures surrounding what seems like a bag of coins...it feels unsettling. What's your take on this? Curator: The unease is intentional. Consider the context: this was created during the rise of mercantile capitalism in the Netherlands. This engraving participates in a long history of didactic imagery warning against the seductive power of wealth. Editor: How so? It seems quite complicated. Curator: Look at the figures. On one side, a muscular man pouring coins *into* the bag. On the other, a demonic figure vying for control of the same wealth. The central figure appears to be Fortuna, but her balance scales indicate an unstable, easily tipped state of affairs, almost like the two others wrestle to buy her off. Doesn’t this allegorical scene comment on how greed can corrupt? And how does the relatively new rise of commerce come to play here? Editor: I guess I see what you mean... it's not just about having riches, it's the *desire* for them that leads to corruption. So the artist is using the engraving medium, a more accessible, readily distributable artform, to reach a wider audience with this message? Curator: Precisely! It brings up interesting questions about who the work was intended for, how it circulated, and what impact it might have had on popular conceptions of wealth and morality. It suggests a society grappling with a changing economic landscape, doesn’t it? Editor: Wow, I had no idea there was so much going on beneath the surface. It makes you think about how we view wealth today and the role of art in shaping those views. Curator: Exactly. And understanding this work deepens our understanding of the Renaissance and the socio-political forces that shaped it.