After Dinner Discourse 

William Holbrook Beard made this painting of oil on canvas depicting monkeys in an upper-class human setting, but we cannot determine the exact date when it was made. Notice the textures and techniques used to bring this scene to life. The figures are rendered with careful brushstrokes, especially visible in their fur and clothing. The artist's technique mirrors the fine art tradition of portraiture, yet it's cleverly subverted by depicting primates in place of humans. The mode of production here is distinctly academic, and yet Beard is interested in poking fun at the pomposity of the bourgeois class, suggesting that their "after dinner discourse" is no more sophisticated than that of primates. The level of detail in the service of satire, from the crystal glassware to the indifferent waiter, highlights how artistic skill can be used to challenge the very social structures it often celebrates. Ultimately, Beard challenges distinctions between high art and social commentary through accessible imagery and refined technique.