Apen op de vismarkt, ca. 1720 1720

"Apen op de vismarkt" (1720) by Matthijs Pool (1676-1740) depicts a lively scene of monkeys bartering fish at a bustling market. This satirical engraving, likely inspired by the Dutch fascination with exotic animals, mocks the human propensity for commerce by portraying apes in human roles, highlighting the shared traits of human and animal behavior. The small-scale, detailed work demonstrates Pool's skill as an engraver and his penchant for humor, evident in the monkeys' anthropomorphic actions. The image is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum.