Studieblad met apenkoppen 1894

Editor: This is a drawing titled "Studieblad met apenkoppen," or "Study Sheet with Monkey Heads," made in 1894 by Joseph Schippers. It’s a pencil drawing on paper, currently housed at the Rijksmuseum. It strikes me as a very academic study. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: The clustering of the monkey heads brings to mind traditional emblem books, those collections of images paired with symbolic mottos or verses that were popular for centuries. Here, though, rather than neat allegories, we have studies in simian expression. Do you see how each portrait captures a different mood? Editor: Yes, they’re quite expressive! Some look curious, others almost comical. Is there a deeper commentary at play, maybe something about human nature reflected in these animals? Curator: Possibly. Consider the cultural moment: Darwin's theories were still relatively new and intensely debated. Monkeys, in this context, could function as a mirror, prompting questions about our origins and, more uncomfortably, our animalistic selves. Schippers presents us with multiple facets, perhaps implying the complex, multifaceted nature of humanity itself. Look at the details he emphasizes—the eyes, the set of the mouth. What feelings do those provoke in you? Editor: I see a recognition there, a kind of… kinship, which is a little unsettling but also fascinating. It definitely makes you think about where we fit in the broader scheme of things. Curator: Precisely! The power of the image lies not just in its technical skill, but its capacity to tap into our shared cultural anxieties and self-perceptions. Each stroke of the pencil subtly layers meaning, inviting us to ponder our relationship to the animal world. Editor: I never would have thought to look at it that way, I'm glad you made me think deeper about Darwinism reflected in art!