16th Century Woodcuts
A Crazy Catfish
Although many of the freshwater fish depicted in Fischbuch are immediately recognizable, this fish is a bit of a mystery. It is clearly a catfish, but I am a little alarmed by its crazy eyes and strange mouth.
A Variety of Sea Monsters
Gessner attributes the descriptions of many of the monsters depicted here to Olaus Magnus, who wrote extensively on sea monsters. Gessner was sometimes suspicious of such monstrosities.
Anglerfish
Anglerfish sit on the bottom of the ocean and attract small fish (their prey) with a "lure" growing from the top of their head. The lure is an impressive adaptation.
Child Being Attacked by Fish
I am thankful that creatures like this do not actually inhabit the ocean.
Cuculus and Hirundo
The woodcuts on this page depict two types of gurnards.
Cyprinus Carpo
This fish is almost perfectly recognizable to the modern zoologist. "Cyprinus," "Carpo," and "Ein Karp," combined with the accurate woodcut leave no doubt that this is the common carp.
Cyprinus Rarus & Monstrosus
A carp with the face of a man certainly would be rare and monstrous!
Der Salmen
The fish depicted here is clearly a spawning male salmon.
Die Äscher
The grayling is a popular gamefish in both Europe and North America (in addition to being my favourite fish). The woodcut here is a very accurate depiction of the grayling.
Flying Fish
This is a full-page woodcut of a "flying fish," but not the sort that flies out of the water. This fish is known today as a "Flying Gurnard," named for its large pectoral fins that give it the appearance of flying along the ocean floor.
Hydra Monstrosa
I, for one, am glad that this creature is fictitious.
Mermonk and Merbishop
These may be my favourite woodcuts in all of Fischbuch. I laugh when imagining how disappointed a sailor would be after encountering a mermonk instead of a mermaid!
One Species of Shark
This full page woodcut depicts a species of shark.
One Species of Shark
The shark depicted in this woodcut is particularly fearsome.
Rhombus Aculeatus
The current species name for this fish is Psetta maxima, common name turbot.
Scorpius Maior
This full page woodcut depicts a species of rockfish.
Sea Monsters Attacking Boats
The sea surely would be terrifying if these creatures, which appear to be inspired by whales, lived there.
Sea Monsters Battling
Battles between sea monsters are depicted here. The largest organism in the bottom woodcut bears superficial resemblance to a whale.
Three Scenes of Sea Monsters
The monsters depicted here are clearly inspired by whales. The woodcut of the young nursing is particularly interesting, as the production of milk is a key difference between fish and whales.
Two Monsters
The second animal depicted is purportedly a kraken.
Two Species of Ray
This page depicts two species of ray. The common name used by Gessner in the plate, “Raia Clauata,” for the second fish depicted persists today as its species name, Raja clavata. The common name for this fish is the thornback ray.
Two Sturgeon
While some woodcuts in this book bear little resemblance to actual species, the two fish here are clearly sturgeon.