# Wat Maeckmen Al Om Gelt \(&#34;What One Does for Money&#34;\)

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/venne-adriaen-pietersz-van-de-r4a4c7dc9437133/wat-maeckmen-al-om-gelt-what-one-does-for-money-r28710ca287683e>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [VENNE, Adriaen Pietersz. van de](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/venne-adriaen-pietersz-van-de-r4a4c7dc9437133>)
- Date: 1601-1650
- Technique: Oil on panel, 27 x 19 cm

## Commentary

The witty phrase on this panel translates in full as: What does one not do for money, said the peasant as he saw a monkey sitting on the window sill \(Wat maakt men al om het geld, zei de boer en hij zag een aap op het venster zitten\). While the precise meaning is no longer known, this proverb seems to have been popular in the 17th century, and Van de Venne returned to the theme on other occasions. Van de Venne&#39;s monochrome oil paintings on panel are universally referred to as grisailles although in this case it is actually in shades of brown \(brunaille\).

## Related artworks

- [A Cavalier at His Dressing Table](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/venne-adriaen-pietersz-van-de-r4a4c7dc9437133/a-cavalier-at-his-dressing-table-reab9c63c575327>)
- [Al-Arm](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/venne-adriaen-pietersz-van-de-r4a4c7dc9437133/al-arm-r21c63a40fbd0f1>)
- [Alle Baeten Helpen \(&#34;Every Gift Helps&#34;\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/venne-adriaen-pietersz-van-de-r4a4c7dc9437133/alle-baeten-helpen-every-gift-helps-r47675903409c33>)
- [Allegory of the Twelve Years&#39; Truce](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/venne-adriaen-pietersz-van-de-r4a4c7dc9437133/allegory-of-the-twelve-years-truce-rac759ba6938b06>)
- [An Amorous Peasant Couple Conversing](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/venne-adriaen-pietersz-van-de-r4a4c7dc9437133/an-amorous-peasant-couple-conversing-rb01e8c95122dd8>)
- [Armoe&#39; Soeckt List \(&#34;Poverty Leads to Cunning&#34;\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/venne-adriaen-pietersz-van-de-r4a4c7dc9437133/armoe-soeckt-list-poverty-leads-to-cunning-rdc6288bc42dec7>)
- [Dance of Death](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/venne-adriaen-pietersz-van-de-r4a4c7dc9437133/dance-of-death-r6335bc90b7e243>)
- [Emblem](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/venne-adriaen-pietersz-van-de-r4a4c7dc9437133/emblem-re8886f74fb3195>)
- [Emblem](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/venne-adriaen-pietersz-van-de-r4a4c7dc9437133/emblem-rf22a0382868c01>)
- [Fishing for Souls](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/venne-adriaen-pietersz-van-de-r4a4c7dc9437133/fishing-for-souls-re4f2051389e6e3>)
- [Fools Have the Most Fun](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/venne-adriaen-pietersz-van-de-r4a4c7dc9437133/fools-have-the-most-fun-r0f9357173caa89>)
- [Fray en Leelijck \(Beautiful and Ugly\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/venne-adriaen-pietersz-van-de-r4a4c7dc9437133/fray-en-leelijck-beautiful-and-ugly-r1963f064b7cd14>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)
