Verschillende soorten vis, 1607 1632 - 1646

Adriaen Matham rendered these ‘Verschillende soorten vis’ in 1607 using etching. Fish, a symbol deeply embedded in cultural memory, appears prominently, and evokes an array of associations, from bounty and sustenance to profound spiritual symbolism. Consider the fish as an early Christian symbol, the ‘ichthys’, an acronym for ‘Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior’. Yet, long before Christianity, fish held sacred significance. In ancient cultures, they were associated with fertility, life, and the depths of the subconscious. Think of the Babylonian fish-god, Ea, a bringer of wisdom and civilization, or the fish avatars of Vishnu in Hindu mythology, rescuing humanity from floods. Here, Matham presents fish not as religious icons, but as specimens of natural history. Yet, the persistent echo of the fish as a symbol resonates, engaging us on a subconscious level. This connection highlights how motifs migrate across epochs, carrying layers of meaning, evolving yet retaining vestiges of their primal power, and resurfacing in different forms.