Day V: The Creation of Fish, Birds, and Beasts 1589

Curator: This is Jan Harmensz. Muller's "Day V: The Creation of Fish, Birds, and Beasts," held here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a circular print, quite small, only about ten inches in diameter. Editor: My first impression is of organized chaos, a teeming celebration of life erupting from the sea. The lines vibrate with this frenetic energy, yet it feels oddly peaceful. Curator: Exactly! It's Day Five of Creation, a pivotal moment. The figure reclining so languidly seems to be overseeing it all, a god perhaps, or maybe humanity itself, nestled among the creatures. Editor: I see a figure grappling with the idea of dominion, of humanity's complex and often violent relationship with the natural world, especially with non-human animals. Curator: The way Muller has rendered these creatures, with such detail and care, suggests a sense of wonder. It’s a reminder that creation is ongoing, a process of both beauty and struggle. Editor: It also makes me think about the environmental disasters of today and the massive toll they take on the species presented here. Perhaps a reminder to see ourselves as part of, not apart from, nature.