A Chained Monkey 1559 - 1596

Franz Brun created this tiny etching of a chained monkey in the late 16th century. This printmaking technique involves incising lines into a metal plate with a sharp needle, then applying ink to the plate and using a press to transfer the image onto paper. The controlled, precise nature of the etching process contrasts with the image itself. Brun has created a symbol of captivity: the monkey is literally and figuratively caught by the chain, with the cut metal lines reinforcing the sharp reality of the monkey's condition. Etchings like this one were often produced in multiples and sold as a commodity. The contrast between the labor intensive process, the animal's status as a commodity, and the print's existence as a commodity encourages us to think about the complex relationships between art, labor, and the marketplace in the early modern period. By understanding the making, we gain a richer sense of this image's meaning.