Mannenfiguur met kostuum van vissen 1694 - 1715

Editor: This is "Mannenfiguur met kostuum van vissen" or "Figure of a man in a costume made of fish" by Gerard Valck, made sometime between 1694 and 1715. It's an engraving, and… well, it's quite bizarre! What jumps out to you about this strange piece? Curator: It's intriguing how this print conflates high art and the world of labor. The depiction of a fisherman is presented in the form of an allegorical figure. Let’s consider the material implications: The labor of fishing—typically a scene of manual work and providing sustenance, and often linked with lower social strata—is here elevated. Editor: Elevated how? Is it simply the costume? Curator: It's the "Habit de Pescheur" as a constructed artifice. The attire itself, made of fish and nets, suggests an entire economy, a method of production if you will. Every element points back to materiality. Think about the engraver’s labour as well: The process of replicating an image versus sourcing real material to build clothing and gather food. The image is reproducible while simultaneously nodding to very particular local economies centered around specific ecologies. Editor: I hadn't considered the act of creating the engraving as a labor parallel to the fishing depicted. It makes me think about what art supplies were available then, how the tools themselves shaped the art. Curator: Exactly! And that tension between skilled craftsmanship and mass production through engraving is central to understanding its impact on the period. Also, question the purpose of such images, for what audiences are such symbolic representations designed, what systems do they justify or obscure. Editor: So, it’s not just about the fisherman or the fish. It's about the means of making meaning, making a living, and… making art. It gives me so much to think about now! Curator: Indeed, reflecting on those questions is key to truly engaging with such complex work!