Billenkoek / platzak 1705

This engraving, crafted by Jan Goeree, presents a rather peculiar scene divided into two parts. In the upper scene, we witness a man being spanked. This act, laden with a strange mix of humiliation and authority, takes us back to ancient rituals of discipline, where the body becomes a canvas for power dynamics. Consider the recurring motif of the exposed posterior throughout history. From ancient fertility rites to modern-day comedic gestures, the buttocks become a site of vulnerability and transgression. Think of the Roman depictions of Venus Kallipygos, or ‘Venus with the Beautiful Buttocks'. Now, notice the lower scene where a man sits, dejected, clutching an empty purse, a symbol of financial ruin. The connection between these two scenes could be related to the concept of shame. The purse as a symbol of personal failure. It speaks to our collective anxieties about status, security, and self-worth. The empty purse triggers deep-seated fears of inadequacy and loss. A potent reminder of our fragile existence.