A putto encourages a lion to attack a unicorn; representing the desperation of speculators who lost their fortunes after the Dutch share boom of 1720 and turned to other ways to make money. Etching by P. van den Berge, 1720.

[Amsterdam] : [publisher not identified], [1720?]

1 print : etching, with engraving ; platemark 15.5 x 10.2 cm

De bubbel jonge op de jagt. De bubbel jongen die zyn schatten heeft verspild, Tragt nu naar voordeel met het jagen van gros wild. P. v.d. Berge in et fec. Gelyk een ligcte debouchant Gants zorgeloos ... Van 't drietal der Hollandsche steden. Translation of lettering (from British Museum online catalogue): "The bubble boy who has wasted his fortunes, now tries to profit by hunting big game". Beside and below the image, Dutch verses printed in letterpress in five columns The etching includes a rococo border containing lions, deer, and an armoured putto, and the artist's signature. Further lettering within the etched border has been deleted from the plate and is indistinct

'Het groote tafereel der dwaasheid', Amsterdam, 1720, is a collection of literary and pictorial satires relating to the Dutch speculation bubble of 1720, which occurred simultaneously with the South Sea bubble and the Mississippi bubble involving John Law. This print is one of the many in that collection: see A.H. Cole, op. cit.

Frederik Muller, De nederlandsche geschiedenis in platen. Beredeneerde beschrijving van nederlandsche historieplaten, zinneprenten en historische kaarten, Amsterdam 1863, part 2, no. 3579 (44)

Not in: British Museum, Catalogue of political and personal satires, vol. 2, London 1978

Arthur H. Cole, The great mirror of folly (Het groote tafereel der dwaasheid). An economic-bibliographical study, Boston 1949, no. 44

Wellcome Collection 812492i