Geestelijke met geldbuidel Possibly 1670 - 1724

Jacob Gole created this print, “Geestelijke met geldbuidel,” sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries, using engraving. During this period, the Dutch Republic experienced a complex interplay of religious fervor and burgeoning capitalism. Gole's print reflects the anxieties and moral questions raised by this intersection. The figure, ostensibly a clergyman, is depicted with exaggerated, almost grotesque features, clutching a money bag and a pair of scissors. It is difficult not to read the image as a satirical commentary on the church's relationship with wealth. The poem beneath the image references deception, suggesting that appearances can be deceiving. "I don't care much, the good trade for me, Is knowing how to cut a purse neatly." The clergyman’s sly grin and greedy demeanor serve as a critique of religious hypocrisy, revealing a society grappling with the tensions between spiritual values and material pursuits. This image invites us to consider how institutions, even those claiming moral authority, can be implicated in the pursuit of wealth and power.