Leugen en Bedrog verstoren een zakelijke transactie 1597

Curator: Here we have "Leugen en Bedrog verstoren een zakelijke transactie," or "Lies and Deceit Disrupting a Business Transaction," an engraving made around 1597 by Hendrick Goltzius. The Rijksmuseum is fortunate to have it in its collection. Editor: My initial impression is that this is a morality play condensed into a small, incredibly detailed print. It feels crowded, bustling almost, even though it's static. Curator: The piece showcases a busy port scene, but the primary focus is indeed the "transaction" taking place in the foreground. See the merchant shaking hands, ostensibly sealing a deal? Editor: Yes, and "Lies" hovers just behind him, ready to stab him in the back with that ridiculously oversized arrow. And "Deceit" lurks too, I think it is that character is pulling at his sleeve with a sly grin. What statement is Goltzius making here? Curator: It’s a cautionary tale reflecting the economic anxieties of the time. Notice the appraiser labeling goods on the bales and casks. Then note how the backdrop shows ships being loaded; everything signifies the burgeoning mercantile culture. The presence of Lies and Deceit personified suggests that commerce is rife with unethical practices. Editor: So, this isn't simply a neutral depiction of trade, but a critique of its inherent corruption? This old engraving style is fascinating! You can clearly observe how each tiny etched line shapes forms and details. Curator: Precisely. Goltzius is leveraging classical allegories, figures drawn straight out of humanist rhetoric, to comment on contemporary issues. Note the verses inscribed along the bottom that quote both scripture and other aphorisms of wisdom: further illustrating moral lessons around business practices. Editor: And the setting; a port city. An image of maritime exchange, made anxious by this concern around fair-dealings in business, a warning of the era... It all coheres wonderfully, revealing the human anxieties about trade and new markets! I see how that anxiety about emerging, global trade became embedded in familiar cultural narratives. Curator: And that contrast--between this traditional morality and the cutthroat nature of nascent capitalism, feels very potent to me, even today. Editor: Agreed. Examining works like this reminds us that art has always engaged with and shaped our understanding of the societal shifts happening around us.