Zeepaard met bladvormige vinnen en een sik c. 1526 - 1606

Adam Fuchs created this engraving of a ‘Seahorse with Leaf-shaped Fins and a Beard’ some time before his death in 1606. At a time when natural science was increasingly influencing art, mythical creatures remained popular, often serving as symbols of power and mystery. Note the seahorse's muscular torso and leaf-shaped fins. These features suggest both strength and elegance. The beard might symbolize wisdom or maturity, linking the creature to human qualities. In a society that was deeply religious, the symbolism of hybrid creatures could evoke complex emotions. The seahorse exists in a liminal space between the real and the imagined. Fuchs masterfully captures this tension, inviting us to reflect on the boundaries of knowledge and belief. It reminds us that even in an age of exploration, the allure of the unknown endures.