Monnik met kromzwaard en dolk. 1724

This is Jacob Gole’s "Monk with a scimitar and dagger", an engraving made sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. The print confronts us with its stark composition: a lone figure centered within a rectangular frame. Note how the monk’s robes, rendered in dense cross-hatching, create a play of light and shadow, suggesting depth and volume. The textures of the fabrics contrast with the starkness of his angular face. A scimitar is visible, and he clutches a dagger as though ready for attack. Gole destabilizes the conventional image of monastic piety, challenging fixed meanings. It is hard not to question the values and categories normally associated with religious life, which are being turned on their head. The dense hatching technique, rather than merely describing form, functions semiotically, contributing to the overall sense of unease and ambiguity. The print invites ongoing interpretation, a site where traditional symbols are re-evaluated, prompting us to reconsider the relationship between appearance and reality.