Monkey with an Apple c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have Antonio Tempesta's "Monkey with an Apple," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's so direct, almost confrontational. The stark lines create a nervous energy, and that little apple just hangs there, a symbol of… what? Temptation? Curator: Well, monkeys in art often symbolize base desires or foolishness. Placing a collar on it, as we see here, could speak to attempts at control. Editor: Or the illusion of control! The way the fur is etched, it's almost like the monkey is vibrating with contained wildness. It feels very loaded. Curator: I think that reading is right on target. The print’s historical context is crucial; understanding the animal’s symbolic weight within Tempesta's era offers a rich interpretive field. Editor: I'm just left wondering, is the monkey about to eat the apple, or is he presenting it? It makes all the difference. Curator: Indeed. Perhaps that's precisely the point: the inherent ambiguity within systems of power and desire. Editor: I like that! It's made me see the monkey in a whole new light – or shade, given the print medium.