{"product_id":"aap-met-spiegel-monkey-with-a-mirror-johann-theodor-de-bry","title":"Aap met spiegel (Monkey with a Mirror) - Johann Theodor de Bry","description":"\u003cp\u003eA satirical engraving by Johann Theodor de Bry depicting a monkey wearing a ruff and gazing into a mirror, critiquing human vanity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-virgin-seated-on-the-clouds-marcantonio-raimondi\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Virgin Seated on the Clouds - Marcantonio Raimondi — Marcantonio Raimondi\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/abraham-sending-his-servant-for-rebecca-adriaen-collaert\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eAbraham Sending His Servant for Rebecca - Adriaen Collaert — Adriaen Collaert\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Johann Theodor de Bry","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58485709373775,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58485716549967,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58485716582735,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58485716615503,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58485716648271,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58485716681039,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58485716713807,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58485716746575,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58485716779343,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58485716812111,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58485716844879,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58485716877647,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Aap-met-spiegel-Monkey-with-a-Mirror-_Poster_CompositorV1_1786368126357.jpg?v=1786844739","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/aap-met-spiegel-monkey-with-a-mirror-johann-theodor-de-bry","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}