The concept of mercantilism was displayed thoughout portraits and paintings during the renaissance. As we learned in class people of this area became obsessesed with the idea of proving your wealth to develop an acepted place in society.
Krugers work strongly challenges this way of thinking and displays veiws that suggest it is wrong to want the luxurious things in life as they do not improve our way of living in the end.
"Mercantilism was the main economic system used during the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. The main goal was to increase a nation's wealth by imposing government regulation concerning all of the nation's commercial interests. It was believed that national strength could be maximized by limiting imports via tariffs and maximizing exports".
"This approach assumes the wealth of a nation depends primarily on the possession of precious metals such as gold and silver".
The goverments goal of creating wealth for the economy influenced society to have the same desires on a day to day basis. Itiems of luxury became a target and if you had them you would show them off.
Krugers first and second image both display the idea that shopping/materialistic ways do not make you a better person. this contrasts the theroy that the people of the renaissance documented and lived by.
Quotes sourced from: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mercantilism.asp
I like your post on Barbara Kruger and how you have pointed out her distaste in mercantilisms way of life. I like how you said: "Krugers first and second image both display the idea that shopping/materialistic ways do not make you a better person. this contrasts the theroy that the people of the renaissance documented and lived by." because this prety much sums up Barbara Kruger.
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