Joseph Schippers painted beautiful animal portraits, but he was most successful from 1900 with his paintings of monkeys with human features or in human situations. Performances with titles such as 'The artist in love', 'At the dentist' or 'In the pub' intrigued the viewer and aroused endearment. He also painted landscapes, still lifes with game and marines. Schippers studied at the Antwerp Academy and was a great admirer of the Belgian animal painter Charles Verlat.