Smithsonian American Art Museum
Meditation
Herman Hartwich, born New York City 1853-died Munich, Germany 1926 · 1885
According to an inscription, this painting shows a monkey named Chico that lived in Herman Hartwich's studio. The artist had just punished him for behaving badly, which probably explains the creature's downcast expression. The rough outlines and unfinished edges suggest that Hartwich painted this piece quickly, perhaps because the monkey did not stay still for very long.
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