“Emblematical print of the South Sea Scheme” is an engraving on paper created by the artist William Hogarth in 1721. The artwork, belonging to the Rococo art movement and categorized as an allegorical painting, is currently held in a private collection.
The artwork presents a bustling and chaotic scene, populated with numerous figures engaged in various activities. At the center, individuals ride a goat on an elevated wooden structure inscribed “Wheel Ride,” symbolizing the high-risk speculation and the folly of the South Sea Bubble. Surrounding this spectacle, crowds gather, representing the multitude of spectators and participants in the financial frenzy. To the left, a figure holding a scythe, possibly representing death or justice, stands prominently on a balcony alongside a demon-like creature, overseeing the madness below. On the lower right corner, an inscribed pedestal reads, “This monument was erected in memory of the destruction of this city by the South Sea in 1720,” indicating the devastating impact of the financial collapse. The entire composition serves as a vivid, satirical critique of the greed and recklessness that characterized the South Sea Scheme.
