Ziet kinders op deez' prent verscheidenheid van visch, Die ons de zee verschaft, meest smaaklyk op den disch 1781 - 1828

Curator: This is a fascinating engraving from between 1781 and 1828 titled, “Ziet kinders op deez' prent verscheidenheid van visch, Die ons de zee verschaft, meest smaaklyk op den disch” - or "See children on this print variety of fish, Which the sea provides us, mostly delicious on the dish," created by Jan Hendriksen. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by its crude yet precise linework. Each marine creature is distinctly framed, like specimens pinned for observation. There's a certain scientific detachment in its composition. Curator: Precisely! This speaks volumes about the 18th-century mindset—a world being cataloged and rationalized. Notice how the visual hierarchy, though seemingly random, serves a purpose. The larger, stranger fish command attention, signifying a blend of scientific curiosity and culinary interest. The images themselves provide insight into the food practices of the period. Editor: The layout too directs the eye systematically across the page; but those tonal inconsistencies from the print imperfections disrupt any perfectly objective reading, I love the visual reminders of age and history—it gives the print so much more impact. Curator: Agreed. The wear and tear contribute to its narrative weight. Each stain, each crease whispers of its journey through time. Look at the prominence of that anglerfish! Symbolically, it might represent the unknown depths and inherent dangers lurking within the bountiful sea, a kind of “memento mori” in edible form. Editor: That deeper metaphorical meaning is there! In its linear, repetitive grid, I see not only a reference to categorisation but to an aesthetic of instruction and curiosity combined in this wonderful image, and so precisely. Curator: Absolutely. Through Hendriksen's precise renderings, a sense of our evolving relationship with nature and sustenance emerges with great precision. Editor: Indeed, an unlikely encounter that bridges scientific record, visual texture, and the ever-present cultural influence on artistic style.