Apen en beren 1778 - 1785

"Apen en beren," or "Apes and Bears" in English, is an engraving by Noach van der Meer II. The scene presents a fraught encounter in nature: a group of monkeys in a tree looking down on two bears, while one monkey sits on a rock, seemingly playing a flute. This engraving can be seen as part of a broader tradition in Dutch art of depicting animals as stand-ins for human behavior. The representation of animals, particularly apes, often intersected with colonial and racial discourses. During this era, apes were sometimes used to caricature or symbolize people of color. The engraving invites a dialogue about the power dynamics between different groups, and how these dynamics can be symbolically played out through animal figures. It serves as a reminder of the complex ways in which art can reflect, reinforce, and also question societal hierarchies.