Spotprent op de windhandelaar, op de bodem van een tabaksdoos, 1720 1874

This etching, "Spotprent op de windhandelaar," made in 1720, presents a tableau of symbolic critique within a structured, framed composition. The detailed line work articulates a central figure surrounded by allegorical elements, creating a visually engaging, albeit satirical, narrative. Notice how the artist employs a rigorous semiotic system. The central figure, adorned with a windmill atop his head, signifies the "wind trader," a speculator profiting from volatile markets. This central figure's placement on a cloud, exhaling wind, suggests the insubstantial nature of their wealth. The precise lines and structured arrangement function as a framework for decoding the socio-economic critique. Vermorcken uses visual language to destabilize the perceived value of speculative ventures, inviting viewers to question the foundations of economic prosperity. The mirroring phrase framing the image reinforces the cyclical nature of speculative bubbles, suggesting both their inevitable rise and eventual collapse. This artwork operates as a site for interpreting cultural anxieties surrounding economic instability.