IJdelheid Possibly 1670 - 1724

Jacob Gole created this print, titled "Vanity," sometime between 1660 and 1737 using an engraving technique. The figure, adorned with a bishop’s mitre and rosary, clutches a cross, symbols traditionally of piety, but here they reek of something more sinister: pride. These religious objects, meant to signify humility and devotion, are transformed into mere ornaments, tools for vainglory. Consider the recurrence of the cross throughout art history – from triumphant symbols of faith to emblems of suffering. Here, Gole presents us with its debasement, a distortion echoing the twisting of sacred ideals for personal gain. Think of the "Ecce Homo" depictions, where Christ, crowned with thorns, is presented to the masses, a spectacle of suffering. In this print, the bishop's grotesque grin and the affected placement of the cross elicit a sense of unease, a subconscious recognition of humanity's potential for self-deception. This image serves as a potent reminder of how easily symbols can be manipulated, their original meanings subverted to feed the insatiable hunger of ego, a cycle repeating throughout the ages.