Monument ter herinnering aan de dwaasheid van het jaar 1720 1720

This pen and gray ink drawing, "Monument ter herinnering aan de dwaasheid van het jaar 1720," was created by Bernard Picart. Observe how the composition is bisected, contrasting an interior scene on the left with an exterior one on the right. The frenzied activity, rendered in tight, nervous lines, evokes chaos. A nude figure rises from a bonfire of financial documents, symbolizing the folly of speculative investments. An allegorical figure flies in to restore order. Picart uses the semiotic language of his time, encoding moral judgments within the visual spectacle. The drawing acts as a critique of the irrational exuberance that led to economic collapse. Note how the artist employs line and form to create a sense of depth and disorder, mirroring the societal upheaval of the period. The architectural facade looms in the background, a stark reminder of institutions left standing amidst financial ruin. Ultimately, Picart's work serves as a cautionary tale, using formal elements to underscore the fragility of economic systems and the enduring power of human folly.