Drie apen 1892 - 1950

Cornelis Jan Mension etched these three monkeys onto paper with impressive detail. They immediately bring to mind the famous trio: Mizaru, Iwazaru, and Kikazaru, embodying the proverb "see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil." But the echoes of this imagery stretch far back through time. Monkeys have often symbolized base instincts or foolishness, yet here, there's a contemplative quality in their gaze. Think of how this motif surfaces in earlier traditions, perhaps echoing in the grotesque figures of medieval art, those shadowy aspects of human nature we prefer to keep veiled. There’s something profoundly human reflected in these animals. Do these monkeys remind us of our own tendencies to ignore uncomfortable truths? The image resonates because it touches on a primal, almost subconscious level. The cyclical nature of these symbols shows us that, across epochs, humans grapple with similar psychological burdens, constantly reshaping and reinterpreting inherited images.