Man with a Money Bag - Jacob Hoolaart

A Dutch mezzotint depicting a man clutching a money bag, representing the sense of touch.

This mezzotint by the Dutch artist Jacob Hoolaart depicts a figure clutching a heavy money bag, a classic motif in seventeenth and eighteenth-century genre art. The subject is shown in profile, leaning against a ledge with a grin that suggests avarice or perhaps a cynical satisfaction with his material gains. The title inscribed below, T' Gevoel, translates to The Sense of Touch, indicating that this work belongs to a series representing the five senses.

The mezzotint technique allows for a range of tonal values, moving from deep shadows to soft highlights. Hoolaart uses this medium to model the form of the man and the texture of the fabric, creating a sense of volume that defines the figure against a dark, atmospheric background. The coins scattered on the ledge provide a narrative detail, reinforcing the theme of greed or wealth.

Jacob Hoolaart was a painter and printmaker active in the Netherlands during the early eighteenth century. His work often reflects the interest in moralising genre scenes that were popular in Dutch art. By focusing on a single figure engaged in a specific action, the artist invites the viewer to consider the character of the man and the implications of his attachment to his wealth. The composition is direct, focusing entirely on the interaction between the man and his possession. The print demonstrates the technical skill required to produce smooth transitions in tone, a hallmark of the mezzotint process. This piece offers a glimpse into the thematic preoccupations of the period, where everyday human behaviours were frequently examined through allegory and visual storytelling.