Leuciscus seu Dardus - Albert Flamen

A detailed seventeenth-century etching by Albert Flamen, depicting three dace on a riverbank with a fishing net and rural background.

This etching by Albert Flamen depicts three dace, a species of freshwater fish, resting upon a riverbank. The work belongs to a series of prints documenting various fish species, often accompanied by Latin and French nomenclature. Flamen, a Flemish artist active in Paris during the seventeenth century, specialised in the depiction of animals and aquatic life. His approach combines scientific observation with the stylistic conventions of the period.

The composition places the fish in the foreground, rendered with precise cross-hatching to define their scales and anatomical features. Behind them, a fishing net is propped against the bank, suggesting the human activity associated with the catch. The background features a rural scene with a cottage and distant ruins, providing a sense of place that grounds the biological subject within a specific environment. The inclusion of birds in flight and the textured rendering of the riverbank grasses demonstrate the artist's attention to the surrounding habitat.

Flamen's work is characterised by a clean, disciplined line quality, typical of the etching techniques employed by printmakers of the era. The print includes the inscription 'Leuciscus seu Dardus. La Vandoise ou Dard' at the base, along with the artist's signature and the phrase 'cum privil. Regis', indicating the royal privilege granted for the publication. This print offers a glimpse into the seventeenth-century interest in natural history and the systematic classification of the natural world. The monochromatic palette and the focus on texture make it a suitable piece for those interested in historical scientific illustration or the development of printmaking techniques in the Baroque period.