Plate 42: Nine Fish c. 1575 - 1580

"Plate 42: Nine Fish," c. 1575-1580, is a watercolor and gouache illustration by Joris Hoefnagel. This plate features an oval composition with nine fish, meticulously rendered with remarkable detail, depicting various species. It is a part of a larger series of plates depicting various natural specimens, highlighting Hoefnagel’s keen eye for observation and masterful skill in representing the intricacies of the natural world. The precise and lifelike portrayal of the fish, their scales, and the subtle ripples in the water, showcases the artist's expertise in naturalism and his contribution to the development of scientific illustration in the 16th century.