Monnik met parelsnoer Possibly 1670 - 1724

Jacob Gole's etching, *Monnik met parelsnoer* (Monk with a Pearl Necklace), is a satirical depiction of a monk, likely a Catholic priest, holding a string of pearls and laughing. The image is likely a critique of religious hypocrisy, using the monk’s greedy expression and the inscription below to suggest the church was more concerned with material wealth than spiritual matters. The inscription suggests that the thief brought the jewels to the church for safekeeping, however, the church is more interested in keeping the loot for themselves than returning it to its rightful owner. Gole’s work is a powerful example of 17th century Dutch satirical art, addressing social and religious issues through visual humor.