Gezicht op een bespotting van bedriegers op een plein te Venetië c. 1759 - 1796

Louis-Joseph Mondhare made this print of a shaming ritual in Venice, using etching and watercolour. Here, we see the public role of art quite literally on display. Throughout Europe, shaming rituals were a form of popular justice, supplementing the work of formal institutions. This print offers insight into the politics of imagery during this period. Punishment of swindlers wasn’t only about justice but also about maintaining social order. In Venice, known for its carnival and trade, appearances and honesty were crucial. Mondhare's print highlights the social conditions that shape artistic production. By etching the shaming of tricksters, he comments on the social structures of his time, reminding viewers of the consequences of dishonesty. To understand this work better, we might research Venetian social customs, the history of punishment, and the role of public spectacle. Art history is as much about social and institutional context as it is about aesthetics.