Op John Law en de actiehandel 1720

Editor: Here we have "Op John Law en de actiehandel," an engraving on metal from 1720, housed here at the Rijksmuseum. It's small, almost like a coin or pendant. The imagery feels allegorical. There’s a figure being blown a horn towards from the sky by what seems to be an angel or cherub, while on the right, someone crawls from a dark cave. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Ah, yes! This little thing, while small, screams volumes about the wild world of early finance! Imagine, the Dutch in the 18th century… it was all happening in the market. It’s a snapshot of the mania surrounding John Law and his Mississippi Company. The figure emerging from the cave is Ignorance, being heralded into the light, and presented by Law on the left as it he were offering insight to the world, what an ingenious metaphor. Editor: So it's satirizing John Law? That the person being "brought to the light" has more in common with "Ignorance" that being some figure being delivered from darkness. Curator: Precisely! That winged figure is probably a distorted representation of 'Fame' and they blowing at him not in encouragement, but in an act of force. The inscription is a testament to what 's behind the "success", look close; do you see all of them buying stock as well and being fooled? So clever! You see a man made rich from essentially an "allegory for ignorance." Editor: Wow. I totally missed the underlying story here, that Law might be some charlatan who is the symbol for 'ignorance' Curator: It's all a bit cynical and ironic. Like looking in a carnival mirror! History, eh? Never short of a bit of pointed satire! I hope, and only hope, modern times may view this relic from history and feel ashamed when buying NFTs, perhaps there is something in art for learning if you think about that and view Law as a precursor in todays times, a 'harbinger of ignorance' - maybe its there. Editor: Okay, that is really thought-provoking and makes this miniature narrative pop out in an entirely new light.