Ware afbeelding van de heer Quinquempoix, 1720 1712 - 1720

Curator: This engraving, "Ware afbeelding van de heer Quinquempoix, 1720," roughly translates to “True Depiction of Mister Quinquempoix.” It’s attributed to an anonymous artist, sometime between 1712 and 1720. It appears to be an illustration, full of caricature. Editor: Yes, it's certainly busy! There's a central figure, probably Quinquempoix himself, surrounded by what looks like chaos and symbolic figures. I’m curious, what kind of story do you think this piece is trying to tell? Curator: Given the title, it’s undoubtedly a satirical portrait. Notice the text surrounding the central image – this was likely social commentary. This was made during the time of John Law's Mississippi Company and subsequent bubble. Does that ring a bell for you? Editor: Ah, right! The Mississippi Bubble. So, Quinquempoix… was he involved in that financial scheme? Curator: He was one of the main actors. Now, looking at the imagery – we see devils, money, perhaps allegorical figures… Consider who this artwork was made for and what segments of the population may be suffering during this episode. Who might have benefited from skewering Quinquempoix? Editor: So the artist might have had a clear message against what he saw as corruption and exploitation tied to speculative economics. I guess it’s about social injustice as well as historical events. I’d not immediately made a connection to larger cultural contexts, I was too focused on the style! Curator: Exactly! And by understanding the political and financial climate of the time, we can interpret the image beyond its face value. Editor: I’ll keep that in mind; it’s made me consider the engraving and its social context in a new light.