Lota sive Barbotta (Three Burbot on a Riverbank) - Albert Flamen

A detailed seventeenth-century etching by Albert Flamen depicting three burbot fish on a riverbank, rendered with precise line work and naturalistic observation.

This etching by Albert Flamen depicts three burbot fish resting upon a riverbank. Flamen, a Flemish artist active in Paris during the seventeenth century, produced a significant body of work focused on aquatic life and birds. His approach to printmaking combines scientific observation with the stylistic conventions of the period. The composition places the fish in the immediate foreground, rendered with precise lines that define their scales and physical form. Behind them, a fishing net rests against reeds, while the background offers a view of a river with a small boat and distant buildings. The inclusion of the Latin and French titles at the bottom, 'Lota sive Barbotta. La Barbotte', reflects the era's interest in natural history classification and the dissemination of knowledge through printed media.

The technique employed here demonstrates the artist's control over the etching needle. By varying the density of the cross-hatching, Flamen creates texture on the fish bodies and depth within the surrounding environment. The work is part of a larger series of prints documenting various species of fish, which were often collected by enthusiasts of natural history and art alike. The presence of the inscription 'Cum privil. Regis' indicates that the print was produced under royal privilege, a common practice for protecting the rights of printmakers in France at the time. This piece provides a clear example of the intersection between artistic practice and the study of the natural world in the seventeenth century, capturing a quiet moment by the water with technical clarity and observational rigour.