Distinction - continued...

It was this sort of distinction between apes and humans which was so carefully studied by the animal illustrator H. Leutemann in the popular weekly journal "Die Gartenlaube" that was vehemently debated in 1871. At the very same time the striking humanness of dressed up monkeys was being celebrated in Broekmann's ape theatre in Leipzig, Charles Darwin published his book on "The Expression of the Emotions" (1872). In this book the wrinkling of the forehead, the pulling of the face or the wide opening of the eyes that was comedy on Broekmann's stage was turned into evidence for the natural bond between man and animals. Yet, grasping the kind of moment that could be so easily observed by the visitors of zoos, pet-keepers or the audience in animal theaters proved to be a great challenge to the animal illustrator. Leutemann was frequently asked whether animals keep still while being portrayed and to his regret he had to contradict this picture. His colleague, Gregor Mützel, described the difficulties as follows:

"The main obstacle for the artist arises from the close contact with the animal itself and can only be mastered by relentless patience and tricks. It is obvious how the movement of the animals especially that of the ceaselessly fidgety apes hinder the artist's effort to fixate the right picture."