Twee platvissen op het strand 1664

Albert Flamen created this print of two flatfish on the beach using etching techniques. The fish dominate the foreground, their detailed scales and fins rendered with fine, precise lines that invite a close inspection. Looking at the overall structure, the composition is split horizontally. The detailed foreground of the fish and beach contrasts sharply with the distant, softly rendered seascape. This division creates a visual tension, setting up a dialogue between the particular and the general, the observed and the imagined. The use of line is particularly striking. Flamen employs hatching and cross-hatching to build up tone and texture, giving the fish a tangible, almost sculptural presence. This meticulous technique draws attention to the surface qualities of the objects, highlighting the artist's engagement with the material world. Ultimately, the print exists not just as a representation but as a commentary on perception itself, suggesting how we construct meaning through observation and interpretation.