Afgunst (Envy) - Jacob Gole

A striking mezzotint by Jacob Gole depicting the personification of Envy, featuring a grotesque figure adorned with a serpent and moralising verse.

This mezzotint by Jacob Gole, titled 'Afgunst' or 'Envy', forms part of a series depicting the seven deadly sins. Gole, a Dutch engraver and print publisher active in Amsterdam, utilised the mezzotint technique to achieve soft gradations of tone, which allowed for the dramatic chiaroscuro seen in this character study. The figure is presented within a circular frame, a common convention for allegorical portraiture of the period.

The subject is rendered with grotesque features, intended to embody the moral corruption associated with envy. The figure wears a hood entwined with a serpent, a traditional iconographic symbol for the sin of jealousy. The facial expression is distorted, with bared teeth and a grimace that conveys internal bitterness. A small plaque attached to the figure's clothing bears the inscription 'a Trompeur trompeur et demi', translating to 'to a deceiver, a deceiver and a half'. This text reinforces the cynical nature of the character, suggesting a cycle of deceit and retribution.

Below the portrait, a French verse further elaborates on the theme of envy, describing the frustration of a missed inheritance and the resulting rage. The combination of visual caricature and textual commentary was a popular format in seventeenth-century print culture, designed to instruct the viewer on moral failings through satire. Gole's technical skill in the mezzotint medium is evident in the subtle modelling of the face and the texture of the fabric, creating a convincing, albeit unsettling, presence. This print offers a glimpse into the period's preoccupation with moral allegory and the use of physiognomy to communicate character traits. It remains a compelling example of Dutch printmaking, demonstrating how artists of the era blended technical precision with didactic intent.