Harpagon op zoek naar zijn verdwenen geld 1878 - 1879

Editor: This is "Harpagon op zoek naar zijn verdwenen geld" by Jean-Antoine-Valentin Foulquier, dating from 1878-1879. It's an etching, drawing, and graphite print on paper. The figure seems intensely worried and frantic. How do you interpret this work, particularly its commentary on wealth and society? Curator: It’s fascinating how Foulquier captures the anxieties surrounding wealth in the late 19th century. Considering the social context of burgeoning capitalism, how does this depiction of Harpagon, frantically searching for his money, speak to the era's anxieties about financial security and the pursuit of wealth? Editor: It does seem to tap into the idea of wealth bringing anxiety instead of security. I wonder if this image serves as a critique of materialism. Is it a comment on the dehumanizing aspects of greed? Curator: Precisely! And beyond that, let's consider the politics of visibility inherent in representing such a scene. Who is afforded the privilege to hoard, and who is relegated to the position of looking in? Is there a power dynamic at play in whose anxieties are centered in this image? How does Foulquier, consciously or unconsciously, reinforce or subvert those power structures? Editor: I see what you mean. Thinking about who gets to be anxious about losing wealth, and who doesn't have wealth to lose in the first place, adds a whole new dimension to this image. It becomes a political statement about wealth disparity. Curator: Exactly. By examining such works through a critical lens, we can understand how art both reflects and shapes societal attitudes toward power, privilege, and economic justice. This is a reminder that art can hold up a mirror to society's imbalances. Editor: I'll definitely be thinking about the power dynamics at play in art, especially in relation to wealth and class, from now on! Thanks.