Haringen bij een visnet - Albert Flamen

A detailed seventeenth-century etching by Albert Flamen depicting herrings beside a fishing net, rendered with precise line work.

This etching by Albert Flamen, a Flemish artist active in Paris during the seventeenth century, captures a quiet moment of maritime life. The composition focuses on a small pile of herrings resting on a shore, with a fishing net draped over a wooden support behind them. In the distance, two sailing vessels are visible on the water, providing a sense of scale and context to the scene. Flamen was well-regarded for his precise observations of nature, particularly his depictions of fish, birds, and aquatic environments. His work often appeared in series, and this print reflects his technical skill in using line work to differentiate textures, from the scales of the fish to the coarse weave of the netting.

The print includes the inscription 'Halec, Le Harang' and 'Cum priuil. Regis', indicating it was produced under royal privilege. The artist's signature, 'A. Flamen f.', appears in the lower left corner. The etching demonstrates the characteristic restraint of the period, relying on cross-hatching and varied line weights to create volume and shadow rather than tonal washes. The scene is devoid of human figures, directing the viewer's attention entirely to the catch and the tools of the trade. This piece offers a glimpse into the seventeenth-century interest in natural history and the documentation of everyday life, rendered with the clarity typical of Dutch and Flemish printmaking traditions. It is a fine example of the period's focus on the material reality of the natural world, presented with a balance of scientific observation and artistic composition.