Artwork
Haddock
Haddock is an oil painting by the Fauvist artist Rik Wouters. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
Overview
Haddock is a 1916 oil painting by Belgian artist Rik Wouters, featuring a still life of a fish on a plate. The work is part of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a haddock in a state of repose on a blue and white plate, accompanied by a decorated bowl in the background. The composition conveys simplicity and elegance, focusing on the everyday subject.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, Haddock reflects Wouters' association with Fauvist principles, though the overall mood is restrained. The brushwork and color palette (notably blues, browns, and the fish's pink accents) contribute to a sense of understated vibrancy.
History & Provenance
Created in 1916, the same year of Wouters' death during World War I, Haddock is one of approximately 200 works produced by the artist in his lifetime. It is now held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
Context
While Wouters worked in multiple mediums (painting, sculpture, draughtsmanship), Haddock represents his approach to still life within the broader context of early 20th-century European modernism.
Legacy
As part of Wouters' oeuvre, Haddock contributes to the artist's reputation for capturing everyday subjects with a unique blend of modernist sensibility and restraint. The piece remains a characteristic example of his style.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Hendrik Emil (Rik) Wouters (21 August 1882 – 11 July 1916) was a Belgian painter, sculptor and draughtsman.
