Twee brasems op een rivieroever 1664

Albert Flamen created this etching of "Two Bream on a Riverbank" sometime in the 17th century. The composition is immediately striking, with the oversized fish dominating the foreground. Their textured scales and detailed fins are rendered with a precise, almost scientific quality. Notice how Flamen uses the stark contrast between the dark, dense lines of the fish and the delicate, airy strokes of the landscape to create a sense of depth and perspective. The horizon line is set quite high, which flattens the background and pushes the fish forward, emphasizing their scale and presence. This play with scale and perspective invites us to question our relationship to the natural world. Are we observers, or are we being observed? Flamen's precise technique and attention to detail elevate the humble bream to a subject worthy of artistic scrutiny, challenging our assumptions about what is considered beautiful or important. Ultimately, it is in these formal qualities that the etching transcends mere representation and becomes a meditation on perception itself.