Man met een geldzak 1723 - 1789

Curator: Here we have "Man with a Money Bag," an engraving attributed to Jacob Hoolaart, likely created sometime between 1723 and 1789. Editor: The most striking thing to me is how the man's joy is palpable. Despite the muted tones typical of engravings, his gleeful expression jumps out. But look closer; it reads almost as avarice. Curator: Avarice, perhaps. But I see a timeless narrative here. Consider the purse he clutches—a symbol of earthly riches, certainly. It is almost womb-like, and he protects it as a new baby or vital organ. He does not show this off but cradles the coins safely in his arms, guarding the purse from thieves. Editor: True, but within the social context, wouldn’t you agree there’s a tension? This was a period of immense wealth disparity. The man's happiness seems indifferent to, perhaps even bolstered by, systemic oppression. The iconography of prosperity feels… charged. Curator: An excellent point. Perhaps this print, rendered in intaglio, offers us a moment for some self-reflection: the pursuit of wealth, the psychological comfort it provides, and what that signifies in society. The texture created by the engraving process even lends itself to representing the layered complexities of such topics. Editor: And in a sense, little has changed, has it? The print endures not only as a portrait but also as a mirror reflecting back at our own culture’s conflicted relationship with capital and labor. How different does that smile look from those we see in the digital age? Curator: Yes, this begs the question, doesn't it? Is it genuine joy, relief, or a carefully crafted mask? And what cultural baggage are we layering onto that reading? The answer lies, I think, somewhere in between those engraved lines. Editor: Well said. I initially perceived greed, but I appreciate how this image confronts my preconceptions while encouraging empathy. Perhaps Hoolaart hoped we would ask questions and be introspective, rather than simply cast judgement.