Hier ziet gy in deez' prent, een aantal handelaaren, / Haat koopmanschap is niets, als acties van de wind, / Op 't scheiden van de markt, zo moeten zy ervaaren, / Dat men het hoofd berooid, de geldbeurs ledig vind 1831 - 1854

This undated print by Erve H. Rynders presents us with a grid of small scenes, etched with delicate lines and washes of color. The composition, segmented into a series of vignettes, creates a narrative frieze. Each compartment encapsulates a moment reflecting the precarious nature of commerce. The use of line—deliberate and precise—defines the figures and objects, while the limited color palette directs our focus to key narrative elements. The structure of the grid itself imposes a sense of order, yet the scenes within depict a world of instability and chance. This contrast creates a visual tension: order versus chaos, control versus unpredictability. The print cleverly uses the formal constraint of the grid to expose the capriciousness of trade, as each scene undermines any expectation of stability. It challenges our desire for fixed meanings, suggesting that, like the whims of the market, interpretation is an ongoing process, subject to change.