Artwork
The Sucking Fish (Echeneis naucratis)
The Sucking Fish (Echeneis naucratis) is an ink print by the Baroque artist Mark Catesby. It dates from 1737 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Sucking Fish (Echeneis naucratis) is a print created by Mark Catesby in 1737, featuring a remora attached to a wooden boat. The work is part of Catesby's comprehensive documentation of North American wildlife.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a remora fish with a sucker-like head clinging to a boat's hull, accompanied by a leafy plant with red flowers. The image illustrates the remora's distinctive behavior of attaching itself to other objects, as hinted at by the label 'Remora' at the bottom.
Technique & Style
The Sucking Fish is an etching and engraving with hand coloring on laid paper, showcasing Catesby's skill in creating detailed prints. The use of hand coloring adds a touch of realism to the illustration.
Context
The print is part of Catesby's Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, a publication that marked the first comprehensive account of North American natural history, featuring 220 plates of diverse species.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mark Catesby (24 March 1683 – 23 December 1749) was an English naturalist who studied the flora and fauna of the New World.
