Exotic Fish 1880

Marianne North painted this ‘Exotic Fish’ with oil on paper during her travels. Consider the fish, often a symbol of abundance and transformation across cultures. In Christianity, it represents spiritual nourishment and faith, while in Eastern traditions, it embodies prosperity and longevity. Here, North captures a peculiar fish, adorned with vibrant stripes that echo the patterns we find in ancient textiles. Think of the Minoan frescoes or even the elaborate decorations on Etruscan pottery. These stripes evoke a primal sense of order and beauty, connecting us to the dawn of artistic expression. But notice also the eyes and the spiky dorsal fin, which hints at hidden depths and potential dangers. The fish, a symbol of the subconscious, invites us to explore our own hidden depths and confront the mysteries that lie beneath the surface.