Zittende aap 1565 - 1630

This small etching by Antonio Tempesta presents us with a seated monkey, collared like a domestic animal. The monkey, often associated with imitation and foolishness, has long been a symbol of base instincts. Think of the "singeries" in French art, where monkeys mimic human activities, a satirical commentary on society's follies. Yet, consider the image of the three wise monkeys: "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". Here, the monkey embodies a path to enlightenment through sensory restraint, originating in a 17th-century Japanese carving at the Tōshō-gū shrine. Our collared monkey evokes a sense of subjugation. The collar, a sign of ownership and control, reminds us of humanity's complex relationship with the natural world—a desire to dominate and tame. In the collective psyche, this image touches upon deep-seated anxieties about freedom and the loss of innocence, reflecting our ongoing struggle to reconcile instinct and reason. Through this image, we see how symbols persist, evolve, and reflect our ever-changing understanding of ourselves.