Oude man met een kist munten in een interieur 1831 - 1888

Jean-Baptiste Meunier created this black and white print, titled 'Old man with a box of coins in an interior'. Made during a time of vast socio-economic change across Europe, Meunier’s image can be situated within debates about wealth, poverty, and class. The artist invites us into the intimate space of an elderly man consumed by his wealth. We see him surrounded by piles of coins, his gaze intense as he inspects his riches. It is hard not to think of this image as a kind of warning. The man's hunched posture and dark surroundings suggest a life lived in isolation, perhaps sacrificed for material gain. The print may echo broader societal anxieties about the moral implications of wealth accumulation, reflecting on the personal cost of prioritizing profit over human connection.