Monnik met een makreel Possibly 1670 - 1724

Curator: This engraving, possibly from between 1670 and 1724, by Jacob Gole is titled "Monnik met een makreel"—"Monk with a Mackerel," which currently resides at the Rijksmuseum. It is part of their print collection. Editor: What strikes me immediately is the character's blatant joy, contrasting oddly with his monastic garb and, of course, that prominent fish. The monochrome allows a focus on material textures. Curator: Absolutely, and it's important to consider the social commentary inherent in this piece. The gleeful expression challenges conventional perceptions of religious figures, perhaps suggesting hypocrisy. The act of holding a fish, presented almost as a prized possession, introduces elements of class and economic transaction into a scene one might traditionally associate with solemnity. Editor: I’d say it is hard not to think of materiality here too. It is really all about surface – what is being shown on the outside, versus the implied realities beneath. Look at how carefully rendered the scales of the fish are! And in comparison, what about the fabric of the monk’s robe, where its folds suggest a life lived in relative luxury. Curator: This is very good point! Also we should think about it beyond face value – this artwork offers interesting commentary on religious roles within Dutch society and the social impact this religious positioning brought during the Baroque. What's presented as devout, as righteous, can very easily be performative or driven by far more earthly needs and interests. Editor: Considering the process and materiality really lets you zoom in on what I think is at play here: social performance as labor. I would argue that its success relied heavily on very specific codes and representations. The way Gole engraved the piece underscores those themes beautifully – he turns social currency and economic status into a tactile thing we can sense. Curator: I agree! Editor: For me this dive has made clear that artworks such as “Monk with a Mackerel” aren't about simply capturing life, it's using art to actively scrutinize it! Curator: Precisely! I found it's the way this challenges and transforms notions of Baroque social piety through a focus on character that stays with me.