French school; end of the 19th century.

French school; end of XIX century.
"Baboon".
Waxes and graphite on paper.
It has frame c. 1830.
Measurements: 46 x 35 cm; 69 x 57,5 cm (frame).
Made with a technique of sure stroke and meticulous anatomical study, the artist captures with precision the proportions, the posture and the expressive features of the animal, revealing an almost ethnographic approach towards the representation of the fauna.
During the 19th century, in the context of advances in natural history, anthropology and evolutionary theory, subjects such as the baboon acquired special relevance. After the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species in 1859, the representation of primates became a meeting point between art and science, as it invited to reflect on the relationship between humans and the animal kingdom. In this sense, works like this not only had an aesthetic value, but also a pedagogical and scientific value, serving as support in natural history cabinets, illustrated manuals and academic studies.