Bilder François Valentijn (1666–1727) – Exotic Marine Life with Fishing Nets – Copperplate Engraving (1724)

Beskrivning

This elaborate double-panel engraving from François Valentijn’s Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indiën features an imaginative display of tropical marine species. The upper scene presents bizarrely shaped fish including a swordfish-like species with elongated rostrum, striped parrotfish, and flat-bodied specimens laid out against a dramatic coastal landscape. The lower panel shows another group of fantastical fish arranged on the shore before fishing nets and boats on the horizon, suggesting human interaction with the exotic sea.

The plate, engraved by Jan or Philipp Elliger after designs by Otto Elliger, was part of Valentijn’s richly illustrated ethnographic and zoological documentation of the East Indies. It combines early naturalist observation with decorative flair characteristic of early 18th-century Dutch printmaking.

Artist or Maker:
François Valentijn

Dimensions:
34 cm x 20 cm

Medium:
Copperplate Engraving

Date:
1724

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.