Geestelijke met een bijbel Possibly 1670 - 1724

This etching by Jacob Gole, titled "Geestelijke met een bijbel," depicts a man in a wide-brimmed hat looking away from a closed book labeled "La Sainte Bible." The man appears to be holding a book, with only his fingers visible, and his facial expression suggests discomfort or reluctance. The work is believed to have been created between 1670 and 1724, a time when the Bible was a central text in religious discourse and societal norms. The inscription beneath the image highlights the tension between the message of the Bible and the pursuit of worldly pleasures, suggesting a critique of those who reject religious teachings.