Monnik en een vleermuis Possibly 1670 - 1724

"Monnik en een vleermuis" (Monk and a Bat), a 17th century etching by Dutch artist Jacob Gole, depicts a monk in profile looking upwards as a bat flies above him. The etching, created between 1670 and 1724, is a satirical depiction of ignorance. The caption below the image, written in French, suggests that the monk, representing ignorance, finds pleasure in not knowing, avoiding the burdens of critical thought. Gole's work, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, illustrates the prevailing cultural perception of the time, showcasing the tension between knowledge and naivety.