Francken played a key role in the development of the genre of the singerie, i.e. comical paintings of monkeys in human activities and attire, often to highlight the folly of humanity. The French-language word ‘singerie’ means a ‘comical grimace, behavior or trick’. Comical scenes with monkeys appearing in human attire and a human environment are a pictorial genre that was initiated in Flemish painting in the 16th century and was subsequently further developed in the 17th century.

Monkeys playing Backgammon by Frans Francken the Younger