A Fishmarket in Venice (aka Venetian Fish Market - the Yield of the Waters) 1878

William Merritt Chase captured this evocative scene of "A Fishmarket in Venice" with oil on canvas. Here, the bounty of the sea is laid out before us. Fish, crabs, and other creatures are arranged in a seemingly haphazard yet deliberate manner, echoing the vanitas tradition. Consider the presence of the ray, prominently displayed. It's a creature that has swum through symbolic waters for centuries. Its flattened form and otherworldly appearance can be traced back to ancient Roman mosaics, where it was associated with the mysteries of the deep and the passage to the afterlife. Even in medieval bestiaries, the ray appears, often depicted with a mix of fascination and fear. These motifs tap into our collective memory, evoking both the allure and the unease associated with the marine realm. The visceral arrangement of the market scene, from the glistening scales to the vacant eyes of the fish, elicits a strong emotional response, reminding us of our own mortality and the cyclical nature of life. The symbolism has been passed down through history, shifting in meaning, and reminding us of our subconscious.