Tric-trac spelende apen - Quirin Boel

A satirical seventeenth-century etching depicting monkeys engaged in a game of backgammon, rendered in the traditional singerie style.

This etching by Quirin Boel depicts a scene of monkeys engaged in a game of tric-trac, an early form of backgammon. The work belongs to the genre of singerie, a style popular in the seventeenth century that features monkeys mimicking human behaviour. These anthropomorphic figures are dressed in contemporary attire, with one monkey wearing a feathered cap, while they sit at a table focused on their game. A glass of wine and a jug are placed on the table, further emphasising the satirical nature of the scene.

Boel, a Flemish printmaker, often collaborated with David Teniers the Younger, whose name appears on the plate as the designer and publisher. The etching demonstrates the technical skill of the period, using fine lines to render the texture of the monkeys' fur and the details of the game board. The composition is straightforward, placing the two figures in profile to allow the viewer to observe the interaction clearly. The background is left largely empty, which directs all attention to the central figures and their playful, yet human-like, activity.

Such prints were produced for a market interested in moralising or humorous allegories. By portraying animals in human roles, the artist invites the viewer to reflect on the absurdity of human vices, such as gambling and drinking. The work is a fine example of the Flemish tradition of genre scenes, where everyday life, or its satirical reflection, was a common subject for both painters and printmakers. This print captures the wit and observational quality characteristic of the era, providing a glimpse into the cultural fascination with the mimicry of human nature through the lens of the animal kingdom.