Monkey on a Branch 1879

Curator: Welcome. Today we’re examining August Allebé’s "Monkey on a Branch," a drawing rendered in pencil and charcoal around 1879, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum collection. Editor: The immediate feeling I get is one of introspection, almost melancholy. The monochromatic palette adds to that somber mood. It’s quite evocative, actually. Curator: Absolutely. Notice the meticulous use of hatching and cross-hatching. Allebé masterfully creates volume and texture with just pencil and charcoal. The subtle gradations in tone articulate the form beautifully. The eyes have that glimmer due to reflected light, thus drawing you in. Editor: I see what you mean. But it's hard to separate the artistic rendering from the subject itself. It's difficult to view this outside the lens of how animals, particularly primates, were regarded in the 19th century—often as a way to reinforce racial hierarchies. Were these studies undertaken to understand animals in their own right, or for other more loaded purposes? Curator: That is an excellent question. Allebé’s focus here is undeniably on anatomical observation. You can feel his attempts to capture the realism of this particular subject: the set of the shoulders, placement of paws...there is clearly interest in form. But, again as you say, we can't divorce it from it’s context. Editor: I wonder if Allebé was making a broader comment on humanity, subtly suggesting parallels between ourselves and the animal kingdom. Or was this just another orientalist capture, designed to demonstrate power over the ‘other’ that was often non-white human beings? It's really troubling to see those comparisons made, then and now. Curator: Regardless, Allebé's technical skills are on full display. His ability to give life to this primate with such simple tools makes for a potent statement. Editor: Well, examining it through that critical lens has given me more food for thought than I had anticipated! Curator: Indeed! It’s an artwork that allows for formal admiration and sociocultural examination simultaneously. A lot to digest for such a humble medium.