Ansjovissen bij een mand en visnet - Albert Flamen

A detailed seventeenth-century etching by Albert Flamen depicting a catch of anchovies alongside fishing equipment, set against a coastal harbour scene.

This etching by Albert Flamen, a Flemish artist active in Paris during the seventeenth century, captures a scene of coastal industry. The composition is divided between the immediate foreground, where a pile of anchovies rests near a woven basket and a discarded net, and the expansive harbour scene beyond. Flamen, known for his precise observations of nature and animal life, employs a delicate line to define the scales of the fish and the texture of the netting. The figures of the fishermen are rendered with economy, their forms integrated into the maritime environment.

In the background, the artist depicts a coastal settlement with fortified structures, suggesting a Mediterranean or French Atlantic setting. Small boats navigate the water, while other figures work along the shoreline. The inclusion of the Latin and French title, 'Encrasicholus, L'Anchoie', along with the 'Cum Privilegio Regis' inscription, indicates this work was part of a larger series of prints documenting aquatic life. Such series were popular among collectors of the period who valued both scientific observation and the aesthetic qualities of the print medium. The etching demonstrates the technical proficiency of the era, using cross-hatching and varied line weights to create depth and atmosphere without relying on heavy tonal washes. The work provides a glimpse into the daily life of seventeenth-century fishing communities, presented with the clarity and attention to detail characteristic of Flamen's graphic output. This print is a fine example of the period's interest in natural history and the documentation of regional trades, rendered with a balance of technical rigour and observational charm.