Schilderende aap 1727

Curator: Here we have "Schilderende aap," or "Painting Monkey," an etching and intaglio print by Aert Schouman, dating back to 1727. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: What strikes me first is the audacity of it! The light seems to catch the monkey’s feathery hat… as if declaring his place within high society. It's sly, you know? A mischievous invitation to laugh. Curator: Absolutely. The choice of etching as the primary medium is significant, allowing for a fine, detailed line that brings out the textures of fur, fabric, and even the painterly marks the monkey is creating. Consider the material process itself - the biting of the plate with acid. The act mimics, perhaps intentionally, the incisive commentary on the art world. Editor: Precisely! There is something so human about his stance. The confident grip on the brush, the palette in hand… He’s almost mocking the creative process, reducing artistry to mere imitation. Curator: Note the smaller monkey figure in the background, almost hidden in the shadows. The choice to represent it with this kind of hierarchical composition gives social context to the monkey painter. The artist highlights societal power dynamics and questions conventional values of the early 18th century through figuration, caricature and genre painting, with this comical juxtaposition between the central ape and the "copy ape". Editor: I love that so many narratives exist together! Perhaps this small fellow is awaiting his turn at the canvas or is pondering what critique to bestow next… The drawing pulls you closer, as if into a playful salon gossip circle. I keep searching this second character. Curator: Right, the print allows for dissemination and wider circulation, amplifying the artwork's message to various consumers, at different levels of social status, in diverse European regions at once. Editor: I do wonder what Schouman intended the piece's reach to be. You have encouraged me to meditate on how he was perceived during this period... He definitely wanted people talking! Curator: Indeed. Reflecting on this work’s historical moment underscores Schouman’s brilliance at blending artistic commentary and social satire. Editor: "Schilderende aap" resonates still, I would say... and offers not just an image but an endless provocation of who decides what holds artistic merit. It will be a long walk to think of other similar artworks.