Monniken bij het dammen c. 1750 - 1850

Tieleman Cato Bruining made this print, “Monks at Checkers,” using etching, a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate with acid. The real skill in etching is controlling the depth of the lines by timing their exposure to the acid. Notice how Bruining uses this effect to create a sense of volume and shadow, especially in the monks’ robes and faces. The scene shows five monks intensely focused on their game while a hooded figure with a scythe looms nearby, a personification of death. The etcher's sharp lines suit the satirical tone, highlighting the monks' engrossment in earthly pleasures, even as they are confronted with their own mortality. The choice of etching as a medium underscores the print's accessibility. Its reproducibility allowed Bruining to disseminate his commentary widely, engaging a broad audience in a critique of religious institutions. The success of the print lies in its skillful blending of material and message, using the craft of etching to bring a moment of social observation to life.