Steur op het strand 1664

Editor: So, here we have Albert Flamen's "Steur op het strand," or "Sturgeon on the Beach," created around 1664. It's an etching, full of incredibly fine lines. The sheer size of the fish compared to everything else creates a somewhat absurd feel. What jumps out at you when you look at this print? Curator: It's odd, isn't it? That huge, almost cartoonish sturgeon dominates the scene, while in the background, life buzzes on with fishing boats and what looks like a naval battle! I think Flamen’s playing with our perception of importance. We tend to focus on grand historical events, battles, you name it! But what about the everyday wonders of nature, like this magnificent fish? Editor: That’s a great point! I hadn't considered that the artist may be satirizing how we interpret historical subjects. How did sturgeon fit into seventeenth-century Dutch culture? Curator: Sturgeon was a delicacy. Beyond that, this print encapsulates a lot about the Baroque era; the dramatic composition, an interest in the natural world… Maybe there's a comment here about Dutch prosperity built upon resources, and a gentle ribbing of their own obsession with exotic goods. Editor: I like that idea! The naval battle combined with the scale of the sturgeon could suggest prosperity resulting from nature. Curator: Absolutely! Look how delicately the artist uses line to define not only the texture of the fish, but also the activity in the background, from waves on the sea, to the buildings at the top left. Did anything about the image mislead you? Editor: Initially, I didn’t understand that the image was an etching because of the incredible detail, making it look photorealistic. Curator: It’s a good reminder to always look closely, isn’t it? There’s often more than meets the eye. Editor: Definitely! I’ll think about this piece – and sturgeon – differently from now on!