Aap als betrapte minnaar - Matthijs Pool

A satirical etching from the singerie tradition, depicting a monkey caught in an act of infidelity, rendered with the technical precision of an eighteenth-century Dutch master.

This etching by Matthijs Pool belongs to the genre of singerie, a decorative style popular in the early eighteenth century that depicts monkeys mimicking human behaviour. The scene presents a domestic interior where a monkey, dressed in contemporary human attire, is caught in a compromising situation. As the husband returns, the lover is seen scrambling out of an open window, while the wife appears startled in the centre of the room. The composition is structured with a clear narrative focus, utilising the conventions of Dutch genre painting to satirise social mores and infidelity.

Pool, an Amsterdam-based engraver, demonstrates technical precision in his handling of the etching needle. The interior is rendered with attention to period details, including the wall hangings, the furniture, and the small dog reacting to the commotion. The inclusion of bilingual text at the base of the print, in both French and Dutch, provides a moralising commentary on the scene, a common feature in prints of this period intended for a broad audience. The work reflects the period's fascination with anthropomorphism, using the animal figures to distance the viewer from the potentially scandalous subject matter while maintaining a humorous tone.

This print is a fine example of the satirical graphic arts produced in the Netherlands during the early eighteenth century. The use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth within the room, guiding the eye from the foreground figures to the dramatic exit of the lover. The work remains a curious piece of social commentary, capturing the wit and playfulness characteristic of the singerie tradition.