En martiniansk abekat 1786 - 1788

J.F. Clemens made this print called, "A Martinian Ape," sometime between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It depicts a monkey dressed in human clothes, complete with a powdered wig, posed in a landscape with palm trees. Made in Denmark, this image points to the rise of scientific racism during the Enlightenment. The image relies on visual codes that would have been well understood by viewers at the time: the ape as a symbol of humanity’s baser instincts, the wig as a symbol of refined society. Here, the artist seems to be humorously critiquing the institutions of European society. Images like this show us the politics of imagery and the public role of art. If we want to understand this image better, we might consult period texts on natural history or political satire. The meaning of art depends so much on social and institutional context.