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THE LESSON OF SNATCHING BANANAS OF DR BB ARIS by Frank Willems.
Year: 2019
Size: 271 x 170 cm
Materials: Acrylic, marker, crayon on reused wood
This satirical parody of The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt plays with themes of justice, survival, and instinct. Instead of an anatomy lesson, the artwork depicts a rather unusual form of education: a baboon teaching the art of stealing bananas.
At the center of the scene stands Dr. BB (Baboon) Aris, a wise and experienced teacher, surrounded by seven attentive students. On the table before them lies a human arm—not as an object of anatomical study, but as a symbol of the skills being passed down. The text THE LESSON OF SNATCHING BANANAS OF DR. BB A reinforces the artwork’s playful and ironic nature.
The reference to Aris Kindt, the criminal from the original painting, raises questions about crime and justice. In the 17th century, there was little room for rehabilitation—offenders like Kindt ended up on the dissection table, with no hope of redemption. But what if he had lived in another time? Would he have been given a second chance?
By blending humor with historical references, this work invites reflection on the fine line between necessity, morality, and instinct. After all, if a baboon can’t buy a banana, does that mean he has to steal one?