Wachtlokaal met apen - Matthijs Pool

A satirical etching by Matthijs Pool depicting monkeys in human military attire, engaging in guardroom activities in the style of David Teniers the Younger.

This etching by Matthijs Pool, titled Wachtlokaal met apen, belongs to the genre of singerie, a style popular in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that depicts monkeys mimicking human behaviour. The composition draws inspiration from the guardroom scenes of David Teniers the Younger, whose influence is acknowledged in the lower left corner of the plate. Pool replaces the traditional human soldiers with anthropomorphic monkeys, who are shown engaging in activities typical of a military guardroom: playing cards, drinking, and keeping watch.

The scene is set in a dimly lit interior, illuminated by a single hanging lantern and the glow of a hearth. The monkeys are dressed in contemporary military attire, complete with plumed hats and swords, which adds a layer of satire to the composition. An owl sits perched above the doorway, observing the chaotic scene below. The floor is cluttered with discarded armour, helmets, and weapons, reinforcing the military theme while providing a sense of disarray. The etching is accompanied by a Dutch verse at the bottom, which provides a narrative context for the monkeys' activities, framing the image as a moralising or humorous commentary on human folly.

Technically, the work demonstrates the precision of Dutch printmaking during this period. Pool uses varied line weights to define the textures of the monkeys' fur, the metallic sheen of the armour, and the atmospheric quality of the smoke-filled room. The use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth, drawing the eye from the foreground figures towards the group gathered around the table in the background. This print is a fine example of the satirical tradition that used animal subjects to critique social hierarchies and human habits, a common trope in European art of the era.