Fronte-boeuf and the Jew, from Ivanhoe 1829

Eugène Delacroix created this print, Fronte-boeuf and the Jew, sometime in the early 19th century. At its center, the composition depicts a medieval scene with a seated figure, presumably the Jew, hunched over a bag, and towered over by his captors. Here, the act of counting and guarding wealth becomes a charged symbol, evoking centuries of cultural anxieties and prejudices. This motif has ancient roots, reappearing in various forms across different eras. Consider how, in medieval morality plays, the figure of avarice is often portrayed hoarding coins, a visual shorthand for greed and spiritual corruption. In Renaissance art, the merchant counting money might symbolize worldly pursuits versus spiritual values. Delacroix taps into this deep well of collective memory, stirring subconscious fears and prejudices linked to wealth, power, and social otherness. This image, therefore, is not just a depiction of a scene from "Ivanhoe", but a potent exploration of the psychological currents that underpin social divisions and historical narratives. It shows how symbols resurface and evolve, carrying their emotional weight through time.