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The Big Fish Eat the Little Fish

Hendrik Hondius I

1619

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Allegory Fishing

Dominant colour

The Big Fish Eat the Little Fish is a 1619 ink by Hendrik Hondius I, a Baroque work, depicting Fishing, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Hendrik Hondius I
When & what style?: 1619 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows a messy kitchen where big fish swallow little fish. A guy in the corner stabs a fish with a knife. A cat eyes the scene from the floor. The artist packed tiny details into the chaos. Look for the mouse in the upper left corner. It’s easy to miss but adds to the story. Try looking up cross-hatching to see how fine lines suggest shadows and depth.