Aap op zijn ziekbed 1720 - 1767

Curator: Welcome. We're standing before Leonard Schenk's "Aap op zijn ziekbed," an engraving made sometime between 1720 and 1767. What are your first thoughts? Editor: My first thought is the material! The very act of engraving—so meticulous, demanding such specific tools and a precise hand. I imagine the labor involved in each tiny etched line, crafting this scene. It speaks to the artistry of reproduction. Curator: Precisely! Let's look at those lines and how they organize the visual space. Notice the dynamic composition; Schenk arranges monkey figures in a mock sickroom tableau. The crisp, linear quality contributes to its satirical effect. How does it strike you? Editor: I see it as a reflection of society's fascination with medicine and class. Who produces it, who has access to healthcare—represented here through the actions of these monkeys, mimicking human behavior. The setting also signifies some level of bourgeois life. Curator: Yes. We're invited to decode this genre scene through its ironic animal allegory. What symbols emerge for you? The bed is clearly an important form, and is a stage on which societal issues unfold. Editor: Absolutely. Look closely; one monkey attends the sick one, perhaps force feeding medicine, whilst another is taking his pulse as other party behind seem to be having too good a time to properly care about his well being. Are these satirical nods to actual medical practices or simply visual jokes reflecting consumption and care? Curator: Perhaps a bit of both. The burlesque gestures contribute to a sharp social commentary. Do you think it still holds relevance today? Editor: Without question. We're constantly bombarded with narratives of consumption and access—albeit, with digital tools instead of the hand-tooled press! Consider the printmaking industry itself; its shifts in power are as poignant today. Curator: I find Schenk’s strategic manipulation of form— the visual wit— utterly masterful. A small format, it is bursting with social commentary. Editor: Agreed. And understanding the labor behind it adds another dimension to its meaning. Every print run extends the social context. It truly underscores the fusion of process, craft, and narrative in art.