Wisselkantoor van Lodewijk XIV, 1706 1706

This anonymous engraving, dating back to 1706, depicts a money exchange office, signified by the word "Cambio". Here, the figures, including Harlequin, are clustered around a table laden with coins, each stamped with symbolic imagery that speaks to power and wealth. The act of exchanging currency is itself a powerful gesture, one that echoes throughout history. One cannot help but recall the ancient Roman practice of "pecunia," where wealth became intrinsically linked to power and status. The coins arrayed on the table are a display of civic might and economic prowess. Observe Harlequin's presence. He is not merely a comic figure but a representation of the adaptability and shifting identities inherent in trade and cultural exchange. His inclusion serves as a commentary on the fluid nature of value. The image pulls us into a psychological drama, revealing how we are all, in a sense, players in a grand game of value, constantly negotiating our desires and anxieties within a social framework.