Monument ter herinnering aan de dwaasheid van het jaar 1720 1720

This print, made by Bernard Picart around 1720, tells a story of financial folly through the sharp lines of engraving. Think of the copper plate, carefully incised to hold ink, then pressed onto paper to create this intricate scene. Picart used this relatively reproducible medium to document and critique the financial bubble of the Mississippi Company. The imagery is jam-packed, reflecting the chaotic nature of the event. Note the figures tumbling from Fortune's wheel, and the burning documents. Engraving allowed for detailed and precise lines, perfect for conveying the frenzy of the crowd and the symbolic destruction of wealth. The social commentary is embedded in the medium itself: prints like this one circulated widely, bringing the critique of elite financial practices to a broader public, therefore, shaping public opinion about the events. It reminds us that art isn't just about aesthetics; it's about how materials and making processes can capture a moment in history.