Congrus (Le Congre) - Albert Flamen

A detailed seventeenth-century etching by Albert Flamen depicting three conger eels on a shoreline, rendered with precise line work and maritime context.

This etching, titled Congrus (Le Congre), is a work by the Flemish artist Albert Flamen. Known for his technical precision in depicting aquatic life, Flamen produced a series of prints documenting various fish species during the mid-seventeenth century. The composition features three conger eels resting upon a sandy shore, rendered with careful attention to the texture of their skin and the anatomical details of their heads.

In the background, a maritime scene unfolds with sailing vessels visible on the horizon, providing a sense of scale and environment. The artist employs fine cross-hatching and varied line weights to create depth and shadow, a hallmark of the etching technique common to the period. The inclusion of the Latin and French names at the base of the print, alongside the notation 'Cum priuil. Regis', indicates that this work was part of a larger, formally published series intended for both scientific interest and aesthetic appreciation.

Flamen, who spent much of his career in Paris, was highly regarded for his ability to capture the natural world with scientific accuracy while maintaining the stylistic conventions of Baroque printmaking. The work avoids unnecessary ornamentation, focusing instead on the clarity of the subject matter. The contrast between the foreground subjects and the atmospheric, sketch-like quality of the distant sea demonstrates the artist's command over the medium. This print offers a glimpse into the seventeenth-century fascination with natural history and the systematic classification of marine life through the medium of the printed image.