Monnik met gesel voor het beeld van Antonius van Padua 1724

"Monnik met gesel voor het beeld van Antonius van Padua" is an etching created in 1724 by Jacob Gole, a Dutch artist known for his satirical engravings. The artwork depicts a humorous scene with two monks. A larger monk, holding a whip, stands in a menacing pose facing a smaller, kneeling monk. The smaller monk is depicted before a statue of St. Anthony of Padua, a popular saint associated with finding lost objects. The image is characteristic of Gole's work, known for its use of caricature and exaggeration, often used to satirize social and religious institutions. This print from the Rijksmuseum offers a glimpse into the social commentary prevalent in Dutch art during the 18th century.