Apen Possibly 1778 - 1787

Jan Brandes made this drawing of three monkeys with graphite on paper. This was a standard material combination at the time, but its apparent simplicity is deceptive. Graphite pencils, though ubiquitous today, were precious commodities in the 18th century, and paper, particularly of this size and quality, was also not cheap. The quick, assured lines suggest that these sketches were done from life, perhaps in a menagerie or a private collection. Zoos as we know them didn't really exist at this time, but wealthy individuals sometimes kept exotic animals as symbols of their global reach and scientific curiosity. This brings up an uncomfortable truth, which is that these animals were essentially commodities, obtained through colonial trade networks. So, while this may seem like a simple drawing, it actually speaks to a complex web of economic and social relations. It reminds us that even the most seemingly innocent artworks can be deeply implicated in systems of power.