“What Does Man for Money!” Adriaen Pietersz. van de Venne

In his paintings executed exclusively in shades of brown (en brunaille), Van de Venne made fun of human foibles in the spirit of the Bruegelian tradition. This work is a representation of a Netherlandish proverb, which the painter makes clear through the inscription fixed on the wall of the building: “What does one not do for money, said the peasant as he saw a monkey sitting in the window”. In this picture, however, the roles are reversed: a monkey is pointing at a peasant sitting in the window, who is holding a basket with eggs falling out of it. This motif symbolises declining sexual potency, as does the rooster with its head dangling down. The loose morals of the woman seen through the window are alluded to by the bird escaping the open cage. The scene is therefore played out in front of a brothel, where the prostitute entertains anybody for money, whether gentleman or peasant.