Triomftocht van de armoede 1780 - 1795

Christian von Mechel created this print, "Triumph of Poverty," in the late 18th century, an era of stark social contrasts. Here, Poverty isn't just a condition; it's personified and paraded. Note the procession itself, a motif echoing classical triumphal arches, but twisted. Instead of celebrating victory, it highlights destitution. The donkey ridden by Ignorance, whipping forward the march of the impoverished masses, evokes ancient symbols of foolishness and the inversion of reason. The enthroned figure embodies poverty as a perverse ruler. I am reminded of similar inversions found in medieval festivals like the Feast of Fools, a ritualistic expression of social anxieties and the subconscious desire for order turned upside down. This grotesque parade touches on a profound level, stirring up collective fears of social collapse and the primal dread of scarcity. Just as the symbols of the past informed Mechel's work, so too, this image resonates across time, reminding us of the cyclical nature of history and the enduring power of symbols.