Sunset at Sea

Jos (Joseph) Schippers was a Belgian painter and etcher best known for his realistic and often humorous depictions of animals—particularly monkeys, which he rendered with distinctly human traits in lively, satirical compositions.

Born on October 13, 1868, in Antwerp, Schippers came from an artistic lineage as the grandson of painter Charles Schippers. He received his formal training at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, studying under Léon Brunin and Pieter Van Havermaet, and from 1893 continued his education at the prestigious Higher Institute of Fine Arts in Antwerp.

Schippers began his career painting landscapes and maritime scenes, but around 1900 he found a unique and enduring niche with his singeries—a genre depicting monkeys engaged in human activities. These works, executed in a finely detailed realist style, combine charm and wit, often carrying a layer of social commentary. Notable examples include The Lovesick Artist, At the Dentist, and In the Pub.

A great admirer of animal painter Charles Verlat, Schippers was deeply influenced by Verlat’s ability to capture emotional expression and theatrical presence in animals. This influence is evident in Schippers’ own work, which blends technical precision with narrative inventiveness.

Although best remembered for these playful scenes, Schippers was a versatile artist who also painted portraits, figure studies, seascapes, and still lifes. His seascapes, in particular, demonstrate his atmospheric sensitivity and command of different subjects.

A devoted family man with nine children, Schippers was honored in 1948 by the City of Antwerp at a public tribute held at City Hall, led by Mayor Lode Craeybeckx, in recognition of his long-standing contributions to Belgian art. He passed away on December 31, 1950, in Deurne, a suburb of Antwerp.

Today, Schippers’ works are held in private and public collections and continue to be celebrated for their technical finesse, narrative charm, and unique blend of realism and satire.