Spotprent bij de sluiting van de beurs van Zocher, 1887 1887

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans made this print in 1887 to mark the closure of the Zocher Stock Exchange in Amsterdam. The image depicts Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, gleefully dancing in front of the Exchange. Here, the artist uses classical imagery ironically. The Stock Exchange, built in 1845, was designed in a neoclassical style to project an image of stability and trustworthiness in the relatively new capitalist markets. However, by 1887, the Exchange had become outdated and was replaced with a modern building, and here we see Mercury celebrating its demise. The Dutch caption bemoans that 'simple beauty gives way to proud, long complaint'. This suggests the older building was more aesthetically pleasing, but perhaps also hints at a nostalgia for an older, simpler form of trade before the rise of modern capitalism. Analyzing the image in relation to the economic and architectural history of Amsterdam gives a fuller appreciation of its meaning. A historian might consult archives of local newspapers or city planning documents to further understand the cultural context of this print. Ultimately, this satirical print reveals how deeply economic change is woven into the fabric of society.