Wachtlokaal met apen, ca. 1720 1710 - 1730

Curator: Alright, let's dive into this intriguing print, "Wachtlokaal met apen," or "Guardroom with Monkeys," created around 1720 by Matthijs Pool. It's an engraving that's just teeming with...well, monkeys! Editor: My first impression? It's like a chaotic party in a dimly lit pub—except the guests have delightfully mischievous faces and surprisingly long tails! There’s a theatrical quality to it that draws me in. The contrast between light and shadow amplifies that, right? Curator: Absolutely. Pool's known for his narrative genre scenes, and this one is particularly fascinating because he's taken the concept of the "singerie" - where monkeys mimic human behavior - to quite a literal and, dare I say, political extreme. It's set in a guardroom, a place of supposed order and authority, but it is entirely populated by these unruly apes. Editor: It screams social commentary, doesn't it? Putting monkeys in positions of power... I mean, are we to read this as a satire on the follies of governance, or perhaps the aristocracy's detachment from the populace? It resonates even today, this portrayal of leaders lost in their own game, blind to genuine responsibility. Curator: It's quite possible. I always interpreted it more as an expression of societal chaos; like what would happen to us humans in a social structure gone sideways. Monkeys doing human things just turns silly real fast. I wonder about Pool's personal feelings when composing this print. What was he laughing at, exactly? Editor: Perhaps he wanted us to contemplate our own "animal" natures. Think about the era – the Enlightenment was dawning, challenging long-held beliefs. By depicting monkeys behaving like humans, he might be prompting reflection on what truly differentiates us, and if those differences are actually that substantial. Where do human endeavors of hierarchy, politics, law and justice really stand up as truly civil? Curator: Interesting! The composition is definitely deliberate. All these lines are dark but well balanced and, despite the underlying social critique, are somehow pleasing and comical! Editor: I'd have to agree, it is pretty comical. These silly apes, this forgotten, satirical social scene; you can almost hear their chattering, see their mimicking gestures, it's strangely profound. Curator: Well, this engraving of "Wachtlokaal met apen," has taken a journey from mere pictorial chaos to profound mirroring.