Zwarte brulaap (Paraguay) 1759 - 1842

This is Pieter Barbiers' rendering of a black howler monkey from Paraguay, an intricate drawing using ink and watercolor. The monkey, the drawing’s subject, is captured in a dynamic upward climb on a tree branch, its form dominating the composition. The artist's approach is remarkable for its detailed naturalism. Notice the meticulous rendering of the monkey's fur, which gives it a palpable texture. The artist's careful modulation of ink and watercolor creates a rich tonal range, enhancing the three-dimensionality of the figure. This contrasts with the relatively bare background, making the monkey the clear focal point. What might seem like a straightforward depiction of an exotic animal is, in fact, a highly constructed representation. The monkey’s pose, the careful attention to its anatomy, and the scientific precision with which it is rendered all speak to the project of natural history and taxonomy in the 18th century. The image serves not only as an aesthetic object, but also as a document that reflects the era’s burgeoning interest in cataloging and understanding the natural world.