Dolfijn in een visnet 1664

Albert Flamen created this etching, "Dolphin in a Fishing Net," sometime in the mid-17th century. It depicts a dolphin, lifeless in a net, surrounded by symbols of the natural world that now seem out of reach. The image is striking for its stark depiction of human impact on the environment. Created in a time of burgeoning maritime trade for the Netherlands, one could see this print as a comment on the changing relationship between humans and the natural world. The detailed rendering of the dolphin contrasts with the softer depiction of the sea, sky and even the fishing net, drawing the viewer's eye to the main subject. By examining archival documents from the period – shipping logs, merchants’ records, and even early scientific reports – we can better understand the complex interplay between commerce, culture, and the natural world that Flamen captured here. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context, making the role of the historian crucial.