Veel beloven en weinig geven / doet de gekken in vreugde leven 1845

This anonymous print captures a moment rife with irony and social commentary. The central figure, perched above the crowd, holds aloft a bottle while another man trumpets promises to the eager onlookers below, promises of riches from lottery tickets. The trumpet, a symbol of heralding and pronouncements, echoes through history, from ancient Roman triumphs to Renaissance fanfares, and now serves as a tool of deception. Similarly, the raised bottle, reminiscent of convivial gatherings, becomes here an emblem of false cheer and exploitation. Consider how such symbols evolve. The trumpet, once a call to arms, becomes a mere noise to lure in the gullible. The bottle, a promise of celebration, now masks empty promises. This cyclical pattern reveals how symbols are not fixed but constantly re-evaluated by society, their meanings shaped by collective experiences and desires. The emotional weight of this image lies in the viewer's recognition of these distorted symbols, understanding the timeless dance between hope and disillusionment that continues to resonate across generations.