Monkeys feasting (Singerie) 1620

Jan Brueghel the Elder created this painting, *Monkeys feasting (Singerie)*, with oil paints in the 17th century. The use of oil paint is crucial here. Unlike fresco or tempera, oil allows for a greater range of tones, and a detailed, almost photographic realism. Brueghel has used this to his advantage, capturing every strand of fur on the monkeys, and the gleam of light on the fruit. But while the medium may be traditional, its use here is subversive. The scene shows monkeys aping human behavior, and the choice of oil paint, typically reserved for serious historical or religious subjects, is part of the joke. Brueghel suggests that the meticulous craft of painting can reveal the ridiculousness of human society, with the animals behaving in a parody of upper-class society at the time. The painting is not just about skill, but about the social commentary that a skilled artist can achieve. It challenges our notions of what fine art should represent, and who it should represent it for.