Artwork
Fish
Fish is an oil painting by the Realist artist Shepard Alonzo Mount. It dates from 1842 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
He liked showing things as they were—no drama, just honest light and texture.
A dead fish lies flat on a worn wooden table. Sunlight hits its silver scales from the left. The tail curls slightly, as if it just flopped to a stop.
Painted in 1842, this is one of Mount’s quiet studies of everyday things. He liked showing things as they were—no drama, just honest light and texture. The background stays plain so you focus on the fish.
Look for more like this at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Overview
Fish is a still-life painting executed in oil on panel by Shepard Alonzo Mount in 1842.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a dead fish on a worn wooden table, illuminated by sunlight from the left, emphasizing its texture and color.
Technique & Style
Mount's realistic rendering of the fish showcases his attention to detail, characteristic of his work within the Realism movement.
Context
As part of Mount's still-life genre work, Fish represents one of his quiet studies of everyday subjects, focusing on honest representation rather than drama.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Shepard Alonzo Mount (1804-1868) was a National Academy of Design-trained American artist during the mid-nineteenth century that painted favorable genres of realism during the time such as still-life and landscapes.
