Vissen in een aquarium c. 1883

Willem Witsen created this etching entitled "Vissen in een aquarium," or "Fish in an Aquarium", sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Witsen was a part of the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, which focused on portraying the everyday life and atmosphere of the city. During this time, aquariums were becoming popular as a display of wealth and a symbol of control over nature. Here, Witsen challenges this notion. The fish seem trapped, their environment limited. The dark, murky tones evoke a sense of confinement and perhaps even loneliness. We are invited to consider our relationship with the natural world, and the ethics of containment. This work departs from traditional representations of nature as idyllic and harmonious. Instead, it offers a more complex and critical perspective, inviting us to reflect on the implications of our desire to control and contain other living beings. It’s a reminder that even in the most controlled environments, the essence of life yearns for something more.