Drinkende monniken
Jan van Somer
1655 - 1700
Medium
paper
Dimensions
220; 265
About this artwork
mezzotint
Art Historical Context
**Drinkende Monniken (Drinking Monks)**Created by Dutch printmaker Jan van Somer between 1655 and 1700, *Drinkende Monniken* captures a lively scene of monks indulging in drink. This small-scale work on paper (265 × 220 mm) reflects the earthy humor and social commentary prevalent in Dutch Golden Age art where monastic life was sometimes playfully critiqued amid the era's prosperity and religious tolerance. The artwork's standout feature is its mezzotint technique, a 17th-century method pioneered in the Netherlands. Unlike traditional engraving's sharp lines, mezzotint begins with a roughened...