Vrouw die geld telt 1802

This etching by Jan Chalon depicts a woman meticulously counting coins, a scene laden with symbolic weight. The act of counting, particularly money, carries connotations of commerce and wealth, yet here it seems burdened with worry. The image is part of a long tradition—think of depictions of misers clutching their fortunes, a motif echoed through the ages. In some ways, this woman is not so different from mythical figures like Plutus, the Greek god of wealth, often shown hoarding gold. But unlike Plutus, she lacks power, becoming a symbol for human anxieties associated with wealth and the fear of loss. These symbols possess a kind of psychological charge that engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level, resurfacing and evolving across time.