Tropische vis Chromis epse 1739 - 1812

This is Johannes le Francq van Berkhey’s etching 'Tropical Fish Chromis epse'. Berkhey was working in a period where natural sciences were gaining importance and artists were contributing to a growing understanding of the world. Berkhey’s meticulous representation of the fish, with attention to the pattern of its scales and the delicate fins, reflects a desire to document and classify nature. Yet, there is something more going on here than just scientific illustration. By presenting this tropical fish, Berkhey also invites us to consider the dynamic relationship between the local and the exotic. What does it mean to bring a fish from a faraway land into the visual landscape of 18th-century Europe? Is this a commentary on the era’s expanding global trade and colonial reach? Perhaps, Berkhey is inviting us to reflect on the interconnectedness of different worlds. His fish is not just an object of scientific study, but a symbol of a world in flux.