Aap met spiegel (Monkey with a Mirror) - Johann Theodor de Bry

A satirical engraving by Johann Theodor de Bry depicting a monkey wearing a ruff and gazing into a mirror, critiquing human vanity.

This engraving by Johann Theodor de Bry depicts a monkey gazing into a circular mirror. The animal wears a stiff, pleated ruff, a fashion accessory common among the European elite during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. The inclusion of the ruff serves as a satirical device, mocking the vanity and social pretensions of the human subjects who adopted such rigid attire.

The composition incorporates several layers of meaning. Above the monkey, a musical staff displays the notes for 'Cantat Simia', or 'The Monkey Sings'. The circular frame of the mirror contains a German inscription, while the base of the print features a Latin caption, 'ASPICE VT INGENTES SVSPENDAT SIMIA RVGAS', which translates to 'See how the monkey hangs its huge ruffs'. This text reinforces the moralising tone of the work, suggesting that human vanity is as foolish as an animal attempting to mimic high fashion.

De Bry, a member of a prominent family of engravers and publishers, utilised precise line work to define the texture of the monkey's fur and the metallic sheen of the mirror. The engraving style is typical of the period, relying on cross-hatching to create volume and shadow. The work functions as a memento mori or a moral warning, common in Northern European art of the era, where animals were frequently used to represent human folly or base instincts. The print is a clear example of the satirical print culture that flourished in the Netherlands and Germany, where visual humour was often paired with didactic text to critique contemporary social norms and the absurdity of human behaviour.