Rechtvaardigheid (Justitia) vernietigt het fortuin van de effectenhandelaren 1720

Claude Gillot etched this work, "Justitia Destroys the Fortune of Stockbrokers," sometime around the late 17th or early 18th century. Here, Justitia, or Justice, floats amidst clouds, wielding her sword and scales, symbols of balance and retribution. But observe how Gillot twists this classical iconography. Justice isn't merely blind; she is actively destroying wealth. Consider how often Justice appears in art history, a figure of serene impartiality. Yet here, she's a force of destruction. This deviation speaks volumes about the anxieties surrounding the burgeoning stock market. The image evokes a kind of collective unease about wealth divorced from labor, connecting to deeper fears about chaos and moral decay. This print is not just a representation; it's an emotional cry against perceived injustice, resonating across centuries, a testament to the enduring power of symbols to express our deepest social and psychological concerns.