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Fascinating satirical broadside offering a biting visual commentary depicting the tumultuous aftermath of the collapse of the share trade and various investment schemes that had affected the Dutch Republic during the notorious "Tulip Mania" period.
At the center of the etching, an obelisk adorned with the coats-of-arms of Amsterdam, Haarlem, and Leyden stood as a reminder of past prosperity, now overshadowed by financial ruin. Personifications and allegorical figures, including Mercury, the god of commerce, gathered around, representing the different players involved in the financial catastrophe - from eager investors to cunning speculators and commoners caught in the turmoil.
A monkey burning papers in the foreground symbolized foolishness and the destruction of financial documents that once held promises of wealth. This act illustrated the recklessness that had led to the disastrous consequences.
In the background, a cliff overlooked the sea, depicting the speculative bubble that had reached its peak. People falling into the sea from the cliff represented the dire consequences of irrational exuberance and the deceptive allure of wealth.
Above, the sun was shown eclipsed, symbolizing the dark times that had befallen the Dutch Republic, with hope and prosperity obscured by the financial disaster.
Accompanying the etching were engraved Dutch and French titles, along with numbered sections that explained the satire's different elements, outlining the folly of those involved. The Dutch and French legend further elucidated the events, offering a critical perspective on human greed and the consequences of speculative excess.
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