Zieke aap c. 1900

This is 'Sick Monkey', a plaster sculpture by Joseph Mendes da Costa, likely created in the early 20th century. The monkey's posture, with its head drooped and arms clutching its torso, evokes a sense of melancholy and vulnerability. The texture of the plaster, with its rough, uneven surface, contributes to this feeling of rawness. The artist employs a simplified, almost geometric style, reducing the monkey's form to basic shapes, emphasizing the essence of the figure rather than detailed naturalism. This abstraction is not merely stylistic; it reflects a deeper engagement with the animal's internal state. The semiotic weight of this sculpture lies in its ability to tap into broader cultural codes. Monkeys have been interpreted as symbols of mimicry or as stand-ins for human emotions, and in this piece, the dejected posture invites a reflection on human suffering. The sculpture challenges the boundaries between the human and animal, destabilizing established categories of feeling. Through its form, it embodies complex emotional and philosophical ideas.