Two Monkeys Eating Oysters c. 17th century

Curator: At first glance, I see a study in contrasts—refined dining juxtaposed with the raw, untamed nature of the animals depicted. Editor: This etching, "Two Monkeys Eating Oysters," was created by Coryn Boel, a Flemish artist who was active in the mid-17th century. The print is small, only about 10 by 15 centimeters. Curator: The monkeys become stand-ins for human folly, perhaps a commentary on the excesses of the wealthy merchant class and their adoption of foreign commodities. Editor: Precisely. The oyster, then a luxurious delicacy, carries a complex symbolic load—wealth, certainly, but also fertility and even a hint of lechery, given its association with aphrodisiacs. Curator: Notice the way the artist has rendered the monkeys' expressions—the one with the pitcher appears almost regal, while the other struggles with his oyster. It’s a clever bit of character acting. Editor: Indeed, Coryn Boel invites a lot more than a simple chuckle. It’s a pointed reflection on our own vanities and pretensions, cleverly masked as animal behavior.