Monnik met een vis en een zwaan Possibly 1670 - 1724

"Monnik met een vis en een zwaan" (Monk with a Fish and a Swan) is a 17th-century etching by Jacob Gole, a Dutch artist who lived from 1660 to 1737. The artwork, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, depicts a monk holding a fish and a swan, with a humorous expression on his face. This print is an example of the satirical genre of art, which was popular in the Dutch Golden Age. The inscription beneath the image adds to the work's satirical nature, suggesting that monks are happy and content, despite appearances. Gole's work, despite its small size, provides a glimpse into the social and cultural aspects of the Dutch Golden Age through a humorous and satirical lens.