Drie Spaanse lijfrentetrekkers uiten hun succes 1839

This lithograph, made by Honoré Daumier, presents a caricature of Spanish rentiers celebrating their financial success. The most striking symbolic element is the pregnant state of the woman held between the two men. This motif connects to the ancient symbol of fertility, often linked to the prosperity of the family. In ancient Greece, for instance, pregnant women were celebrated as symbols of hope and continuity. Here, the woman's condition, juxtaposed with the men's jubilant expressions and the "Bourse et T" in the background, suggests a new financial security thanks to speculation at the stock exchange. But it's a satirical take on the rising bourgeois, who, with their newfound wealth, flaunt their prosperity in the face of a rapidly changing society. The emotional undertone here is complex; it conveys both triumph and the absurdity of materialistic obsessions. This symbol resurfaces, transformed, in different eras, reflecting humanity's enduring pursuit of security and well-being, often tinged with irony and critique.