John Law en anderen torsen hun schulden op hun schouders, 1720 1720

This 1720 satirical engraving, titled "John Law en anderen torsen hun schulden op hun schouders," depicts a group of figures burdened by the weight of their debt. The central figure, likely representing John Law, a Scottish financier, is shown carrying a large bag of money, while others around him struggle under the weight of their own financial burdens. The anonymous artist used this image to criticize the speculative bubble of the Mississippi Company, a financial scheme that promised wealth but ultimately resulted in widespread economic hardship. This artwork, housed in the Rijksmuseum, is a valuable historical document that provides insight into the economic and social anxieties of early 18th-century Europe.