Monnik met munten

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**Monnik met Munten (Monk with Coins)** *Jacob Gole, 1693–1700, Engraving, 115 × 90 mm* Step into the intricate world of Dutch Baroque printmaking with Jacob Gole's *Monnik met munten*, a small yet captivating engraving from the late 17th century. G (1660–1737), a skilled Amsterdam-based engraver, was renowned his precise reproductive prints that brought paintings and drawings to wider audiences during the Dutch Golden Age. This work, dated between 1693 and 1700, exemplifies the era's mastery of engraving—a labor-intensive intaglio technique where fine lines are incised into a copper plate, inked, and pressed onto paper. At just 115 by 90 mm, its diminutive scale highlights the medium's power to convey rich detail, making high art accessible to collectors and scholars. The title suggests a monk handling coins, evoking themes of wealth, temptation, or monastic virtue amid the moral reflections popular in Dutch art. Gole's Baroque style likely employs dramatic contrasts and meticulous linework to draw viewers into this intimate scene, reflecting the period's fascination with human folly and piety. On the verso, a stamped collector's mark (Lugt 2228) reveals its esteemed provenance, linking it to a historic collection and underscoring engravings' enduring value as portable treasures. This piece invites us to ponder how a monk's handful of coins captures timeless tensions between spirit and materiality—perfect for savoring in our virtual galleries!

About the Artist

Jacob Gole · 1660–1737

Jacob Gole (c. 1660-1737) was a Dutch engraver and mezzotinter renowned for his portrait engravings and his role in disseminating the mezzotint technique across Europe. Born in Paris to the celebrated Huguenot cabinetmaker Pierre Gole, he emerged as one of the most skilled printmakers of the late Dutch Golden Age. Gole's significance in art history lies primarily in his mastery of the mezzotint t...