The artwork titled “Front cover of the ‘L’Argent’ issue, from ‘L’Assiette au Beurre’,” created in 1902 by Frantisek Kupka, is a lithograph on paper, emblematic of Expressionism. This piece belongs to the genre of design and is part of the collection at the Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris (BHVP) in Paris, France.
The artwork features a grotesque, exaggerated figure with a bloated, transparent belly filled with coins, symbolizing greed and materialism. The figure wears a crown forcefully placed on its head, suggesting a critique of the ruling class’s obsession with wealth. On the artwork’s left, a smaller, human figure in a suit gestures dramatically, possibly representing a critique of society or an individual struggling against the corrupting power of money. The intense use of reds and dark colors enhances the dramatic and critical tone of the piece. The title “L’Argent” (Money) is prominently featured at the bottom, further underlining the theme of financial corruption and moral decay.
