Fishes

  • Anthias Diagramma, The Warna. (1785-1797) (1)

    Anthias Diagramma, The Warna. (1785-1797) (1)

    Marcus Elieser Bloch (German, 1723–1799)

    A delicate fish, its scales shimmering in precise engraved lines, hovers against blank paper—caught mid-swim yet frozen, every fin and gill rendered with scientific clarity. The ocean is absent, but the creature pulses with life.

  • Ostracion Cornutus, The Horn-fish. (1785-1797)

    Ostracion Cornutus, The Horn-fish. (1785-1797)

    Marcus Elieser Bloch (German, 1723–1799)

    A horned fish floats mid-page, its armored body etched in precise lines. Spines jut from its boxy frame, delicate fins splayed like lace. The engraving freezes this odd creature between science and art—part specimen, part phantom from the deep.

  • Poissons, ecrevisses et crabes, de diverses couleurs et figures extraordinaires.. Pl.019 (1718-1719)

    Poissons, ecrevisses et crabes, de diverses couleurs et figures extraordinaires.. Pl.019 (1718-1719)

    Louis Renard (French, 1678–1746)

    Vibrant fish dart across the page, their scales shimmering in impossible hues. Nearby, a crimson crab claws at the edge, its shell etched with intricate patterns. The sea creatures twist in exaggerated forms—some striped like tigers, others spotted like leopards—as if plucked from a sailor’s wildest tale.

  • 1. Centriscus Scolopax, The Snipe-Fish; 2. Centriscus Scutatus, The Knife Fish; (1785-1797)

    1. Centriscus Scolopax, The Snipe-Fish; 2. Centriscus Scutatus, The Knife Fish; (1785-1797)

    Marcus Elieser Bloch (German, 1723–1799)

    Two slender fish, one curved like a snipe’s beak, the other flat as a blade, float against blank parchment. Delicate engravings trace each rib and fin with scientific precision, transforming marine creatures into elegant specimens suspended between art and study.

  • 1. Labrus Julis, The Rainbow-fish; 2. Labrus Guttatus, The dropped Wrasse. (1785-1797)

    1. Labrus Julis, The Rainbow-fish; 2. Labrus Guttatus, The dropped Wrasse. (1785-1797)

    Marcus Elieser Bloch (German, 1723–1799)

    Two vibrant fish leap from the page—one striped in fiery oranges and blues, the other speckled like scattered ink. Their scales shimmer with life, frozen mid-motion as if darting through coral. The delicate engravings reveal every fin and gill, turning scientific precision into unexpected beauty.

  • Fish Series, No. 2 (1917)

    Fish Series, No. 2 (1917)

    Charles Demuth (American, 1883–1935)

    A delicate watercolor study of fish, their scales shimmering with translucent washes. The precise lines suggest scientific observation, yet the fluid colors breathe life into each specimen. Something between documentation and poetry.

  • Gonorynchus fosteri (NZ) _ Sand fish (after 1870)

    Gonorynchus fosteri (NZ) _ Sand fish (after 1870)

    Frank Edward Clarke (New Zealander, 1864–1935)

    A slender, eel-like fish twists through the sand, its pale body nearly translucent against the seabed. Delicate fins ripple with motion, perfectly adapted to burrow and vanish. The details—every scale, every subtle curve—hint at a life spent hidden just beneath the surface.

  • Fishes III (1885-1890)

    Fishes III (1885-1890)

    Frederick McCoy (Irish, unknown)

    Delicate fins ripple through translucent watercolor washes. Scales glint with muted iridescence, each brushstroke tracing the fluid grace of marine life suspended on paper. The fish seem to dart just beyond the page’s edge.

  • Unidentified Fish (8)

    Unidentified Fish (8)

    Luigi Balugani (Italian, 1737–1770)

    A slender fish glides across the page, its scales rendered in delicate watercolor washes—pale gold fading to translucent silver. The precise lines of its fins suggest motion, as if it might dart off the paper into deeper waters.