A satirical mezzotint by Jacob Gole depicting a clergyman and a woman, exploring themes of moral hypocrisy through the lens of the seven deadly sins.

This mezzotint by the Dutch engraver Jacob Gole depicts a satirical scene titled La Luxure. The composition is circular, presenting a close-up encounter between a clergyman and a woman. The clergyman, identifiable by his clerical collar and a prominent medallion bearing the IHS monogram, leans toward the woman with a suggestive expression. The woman, adorned in an elaborate lace headpiece and a pearl necklace, returns his gaze. The work belongs to a series exploring the seven deadly sins, a common subject in European print culture during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.

Gole was a prolific printmaker based in Amsterdam, known for his technical proficiency in mezzotint. This medium allowed for subtle gradations of tone, which Gole employs here to create soft transitions between light and shadow across the faces and garments of the subjects. The circular framing focuses the viewer on the interaction, heightening the sense of intimacy and moral critique inherent in the subject matter. Below the image, a French quatrain provides context, framing the scene as a confession turned into a declaration of desire. The text reads: 'Je vous ouvre mon coeur, exaucez mes desirs, De vôtre Confesseur, ie deviens vôtre esclave: Devant tant de beautez, on ne peut estre grave, Car le ciel n'eut iamais de si charmans plaisirs.'

This print offers a glimpse into the social and moral commentary prevalent in Dutch art of the period. It functions as both a display of technical skill in the mezzotint process and a piece of social satire. The contrast between the religious symbols worn by the man and his worldly behaviour is a classic trope of the era, used to critique hypocrisy within the church. The work remains a fine example of Gole's ability to capture character and narrative through the medium of print.