Drie apen 1866 - 1910

This print by Armand Heins depicts three huddled monkeys rendered in stark monochrome. These are not just any monkeys; they echo the ancient wisdom of the three mystic apes: "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." This pictorial maxim resurfaces throughout history, notably in 17th-century Japan at the Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō, where it's carved in elaborate detail. One wonders, what primal fear or societal norm birthed this visual mantra? Are we confronted with the collective urge to deny the darker aspects of existence? The image also evokes a sense of deep, subconscious anxiety. The monkeys, huddled together in the dark, suggest a state of vulnerability and apprehension. Are these primates merely comical, or are they a reflection of our own anxieties, a mirror reflecting our shared human condition? Ultimately, this image is a reminder of the cyclical nature of symbols—how they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, echoing through the corridors of time.