Still Life 1925

This Still Life by Louis Marcoussis showcases an array of objects, but it's the fish that swim to the forefront of our attention. Notice how the fish is both singular and plural; laid out on a plate or ready to be consumed. The motif of the fish carries rich symbolism through time. In early Christian art, the fish, or "ichthys" in Greek, was a coded symbol representing Jesus Christ, a symbol used in times of persecution. Yet, before its Christian adoption, the fish was a symbol of fertility, abundance, and transformation across various ancient cultures. Think of the Babylonian god Oannes, half-man, half-fish, a bringer of knowledge and civilization. Here, the artist revisits this ancient symbol, stripping it back to its simplest form, a mere echo of its once potent spiritual meanings. The fish, once a symbol of life and divinity, now sits inert on a plate, waiting to be consumed. It's a stark commentary on the cyclical nature of symbols and the passage of time, a powerful force that alters meanings, stripping away layers of cultural significance, leaving behind only the faintest echo of their former glory.