Dikke monnik, met voedingswaren beladen 1724

"Dikke monnik, met voedingswaren beladen" (1724) by Jacob Gole is an etching depicting a monk carrying a sack of food, likely on his way to distribute it to the poor. Gole's artwork, a satirical commentary on the excesses of the Catholic Church, is a classic example of 18th-century Dutch genre painting. The image offers a humorous take on the monk's physical appearance, highlighting his heavy build and seemingly weighty cargo. The etching, a printmaking technique using acid to create a design on a metal plate, demonstrates Gole's skillful use of line and shading to create a sense of depth and realism. This artwork, housed in the Rijksmuseum, captures a poignant moment in social history and is a testament to the power of satire in art.