Non met uitgestoken tong Possibly 1670 - 1724

Curator: Look at this fascinating piece titled "Non met uitgestoken tong," possibly created between 1670 and 1724 by Jacob Gole. It's currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My first thought is "grotesque." The exaggerated features and that protruding tongue – it's almost confrontational, especially rendered in the precise lines of the engraving. What statement is being made? Curator: Indeed! Gole, known for his skill with the engraving tools, has crafted a satirical commentary here. We see a woman in religious garb, likely a nun or abbess, with a distinctly unflattering expression. The inscription around her neck reads "La Revorende Mere." It seems that the piece works within existing stereotypes to poke fun at authority and religious figures, maybe echoing broader anti-clerical sentiments of the period. Editor: And it’s worth emphasizing that this isn't some quickly sketched doodle. Look at the labour involved! Each line etched meticulously into the plate, the layering of tone, it elevates the material process and challenges high art. What materials and resources did he require to generate that social message? And how widely was a print like this distributed? Curator: Absolutely, considering it in terms of production is critical. Moreover, placing her within the framework of women’s roles, religion, and perhaps suppressed desire complicates things even further. Could this be an expression of rebellion against enforced piety? The tension between her position of supposed virtue and the suggestive gesture of her tongue opens multiple lines of inquiry. What can art say about a time period, but moreover about individual perceptions? Editor: It definitely makes me think about the circulation of such imagery – a fairly inexpensive print allowing wider segments of society access to satire against the clergy, against traditional power structures. The means of reproduction matter immensely! And I find myself returning to the detail, that tiny, carefully rendered tongue... Curator: Agreed, the physicality and the reproducibility, but also its representation! I’m drawn to consider the impact and implication of her expression and posture against social and gender conventions and inequalities, allowing new dialogues of personal power versus forced oppression. Editor: This exercise gives new appreciation for what can be gleaned through art when examining material resources as much as symbolism. Curator: A valuable perspective, reminding us to never reduce art to single readings or intents. The act of engagement is to continue discovering the many intersecting layers of meaning through conversation!