Bot, garnaal, spiering en pos c. 1581 - 1656

Here we have a drawing by Nicolaes de Bruyn, made with pen in brown and watercolour. The composition presents several specimens of marine life against a muted background, contained within a dark border. Each creature, from the flatfish to the shrimp, spiering and conch shell, is rendered with a taxonomic precision typical of natural studies from this period. De Bruyn's arrangement invites us to consider relationships between representation and knowledge. The meticulous detail can be seen as a visual language aimed at cataloguing and understanding the natural world, and this form of representation mirrors the burgeoning scientific curiosity of the time. Consider the textural contrasts, too: the delicate transparency of the shrimp versus the solid, earthy tones of the fish. The drawing's structure emphasizes a move toward systematized observation of nature, which is visually arresting. It prompts us to reflect on how we classify and seek to understand our environment.