1594
gouache
vellum
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Plate 18: Boarfish, Razorfish, Butterfish, a John Dory, and Other Fish is a 1594 gouache by Joris Hoefnagel, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This painting shows nine different fish floating in a light blue ocean. Each fish has its own spot, labeled with tiny numbers. The colors are soft—pinks, browns, blues, and greens—with a gold border around the whole scene. The artist painted each fish carefully, even showing small details like scales and fins. This kind of careful drawing was often used in books to teach people about nature. Next, look up technique: watercolor, glazing to see how artists build up colors like this.
Joris Hoefnagel or Georg Hoefnagel (1542 – 24 July 1601) was a Flemish painter, printmaker, miniaturist, draftsman and merchant.
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