De nieuwe bankroetierswagen voor de dolle actionisten, 1720 1720

This anonymous print from 1720 satirizes the financial speculators of the time, in the wake of the Mississippi Bubble and the South Sea Bubble. These events were characterized by reckless speculation and market manipulation, leading to widespread financial ruin. The print depicts figures on a 'bankruptcy wagon,' a visual metaphor for the consequences of unchecked greed. The composition evokes a sense of chaos and moral decay. Everyone is on this wagon together regardless of class, race, or gender; a diverse range of people all striving for wealth. Prints like this served as a form of social commentary, reflecting popular sentiment and anxieties about economic instability. They highlight the fine line between ambition and recklessness, and the ways in which financial systems can both create and destroy fortunes. The emotional impact of such images resonated deeply with a public grappling with the real-world consequences of speculative bubbles. The print develops an alternative narrative by placing everyone at fault.