The Muray (Muraena helena)
1754
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1754
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This image shows a coiled snake-like fish called a muray eel. Its body is dark with a textured, almost scaly look, and its head is open-mouthed, revealing sharp teeth. The eel curves in a loose circle, resting on a plain light background. The artist used fine lines and shading to show the eel’s skin and muscles. This was likely done with etching, a method that carves into metal plates for printing. Look up etching to see how artists create detailed prints this way.
