The Tax Collectors

Genre compositions depicting moneychangers, usurers, or merchants became common in 16th-century Netherlandish painting. In contrast to Quentin Massys, who pioneered the theme, Reymerswaele gives his personages satirically pointed, almost grotesque features. The archaic elements in their dress may have been a traditional indicator of their occupation. The many repetitions of the subject (more than 30 variants are known) indicate that it was popular and in enduring demand.