Plate 40: Salmon, Trout, and Freshwater(?) Fish c. 1575 - 1580

Curator: Here we have Joris Hoefnagel's "Plate 40: Salmon, Trout, and Freshwater(?) Fish", a watercolor drawing dating from about 1575 to 1580. Editor: What strikes me is the arrangement – a very stylized, almost decorative display of these fish suspended in light blue washes suggestive of water. Curator: Indeed. Hoefnagel was commissioned by Emperor Rudolf II to document the natural world. This wasn't merely objective scientific illustration, though. These images also reflected the Emperor's vast holdings and power. Editor: I see what you mean. The precision in rendering the scales and fins is remarkable. And look at the way he plays with subtle gradations of color to define form, from the speckled backs to the pearly undersides. It's both informative and quite beautiful. Curator: Hoefnagel worked within a specific artistic and intellectual context. These "natural histories" served not just as records, but as symbolic displays of imperial knowledge and control over resources, accessible only to an elite audience. The roundel format here recalls manuscript illumination and emphasizes its artful status as a collection item for a privileged library. Editor: I agree it's incredibly refined, but there’s a certain stiffness, almost a heraldic quality, in the way each fish is presented, as if they are trophies. There is a marked attempt to use light and shadow, which gives a sculptural weight, but within its limited watery frame it's undeniably contained. Curator: And that containment is precisely part of the message! This imagery serves to reinforce the cultural idea of man's dominion over the natural world—a prevalent ideology within elite circles in the late 16th century. Editor: Ultimately, what fascinates me is Hoefnagel’s technical skill, making use of watercolour illustration. It makes us look, closely and with heightened sensitivity. Curator: It is important to be mindful that while it appeals to us today through its scientific precision, this artwork originally functioned within a network of power and privilege.