Staande monnik met uitgestoken tong c. 1690 - 1724

Jacob Gole created this print of a standing monk with his tongue sticking out sometime between 1660 and 1737. The lines, etched with precision, capture the monk's figure in a theatrical pose. The composition is striking: the monk, adorned in robes and a peculiar headpiece, stands against a minimal landscape, his extended tongue and pointed finger creating a sense of disruptive commentary. Gole masterfully uses line and form to destabilize traditional representations of religious figures, challenging the viewer's expectations. This subversion reflects a broader cultural discourse questioning established authority. Note how the monk's grotesque features, rendered with meticulous detail, contrast with the delicate lines of his garments, highlighting the tension between the sacred and the profane. This tension serves not just as an aesthetic technique, but as a philosophical statement, prompting a re-evaluation of the values and categories we often take for granted.