Quincampoix in duigen, 1720 1720

This anonymous print from 1720 held at the Rijksmuseum shows the chaos of the Quincampoix market. A flurry of doves overhead contrasts sharply with the turmoil below, where figures clamor amidst collapsing structures. The doves, traditionally symbols of peace and prosperity, here mock the financial ruin. One can see echoes of such avian symbolism stretching back to ancient mythologies, like the dove released by Noah to find land, or Aphrodite, goddess of love, often depicted with doves, suggesting that the symbolic use of the animal can be transferred across cultures. The collapse evokes a psychological unraveling, a collective descent into madness fueled by greed. Notice the non-linear trajectory of symbols, how doves resurface across eras, laden with shifting meanings, from hope to irony, revealing our persistent, subconscious engagement with primal imagery.