Landschap met de gelijkenis van de rijke dwaas 1582 - 1613

This etching, “Landscape with the likeness of the rich fool,” was made by Pieter van der Borcht the elder, probably in the 1590s. It’s a print, so of course the material reality is that of ink on paper – but look closely and you’ll see the image is full of building and agriculture. We see laborers at work constructing a house. In the distance, farmers gather crops. The landscape is punctuated by human activity, all set within a market economy. These processes, the actual labor of creating shelter and sustenance, are contrasted with the ‘rich fool’ of the title, too enamored of his wealth to see its true source. The artist uses the etching medium to great effect, creating a dense network of lines that suggest the hard work involved in building and farming. By emphasizing these processes, van der Borcht reminds us that wealth is not simply accumulated, but created through labor and skill. He challenges us to consider the social implications of our own consumption and the value we place on material goods.