Banket in open lucht 1545 - 1608

This engraving, "Banket in open lucht," was created by Pieter van der Borcht around the late 16th century in the Netherlands. It depicts a banquet scene populated entirely by monkeys, a popular motif in Netherlandish art known as "singeries". Singeries often served as satirical commentaries on human behavior. Consider the social dynamics on display here – the musicians, the servers, the brawling figures, and the diners at the table. Van der Borcht seems interested in the absurdity of human society by portraying simian figures engaged in human-like activities. To truly understand the artwork's meaning, we must consider the cultural context in which it was produced. The 16th century in the Netherlands was a time of social and political upheaval, marked by the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. Perhaps this image is a commentary on the social structures and power dynamics of the time. As historians, we can turn to period texts and prints to find out more about how this image operated in its own time. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.