Humour
A Typical Fish Romancer
While no one would use the term "Fish Romancer" today, fish tales haven't changed much since 1890!
Even Fly Fishing Has Its Drawbacks in Some Localities
A discussion of fish would be incomplete without referencing anglers. I am not sure what is about to happen to the fellow depicted in this woodcut, but I would put my money on the dragonfly!
Off For a Cruise
Some Victorian books on fish and fishing include comical illustrations. This whimsical woodcut depicts the obvious contradiction of a fish rowing a boat.
The Fisherman's Dream
I may have titled this woodcut not "The Fisherman's Dream" but "The Fish's Dream." It looks to me like these fish are about to exact revenge for the actions of the angler’s hook and line!
Fish Couture
In cultures around the world, fish play an integral part in daily life as food, objects of study and recreational pursuit, and as characters in stories and parables. Over the last several years, I have built the portion of my collection that documents the social history of fish, including ways that lay people interact with fish in a non-technical way. This print by George Spratt illustrates a woman whose body and clothing comprise different species of fish and other aquatic organisms.
Fish Couture Details
The details here are fantastic. What appears to be a “normal” necklace around the woman’s neck is, in fact, a chain of small fish, and her brown hair is represented by two small flatfish beneath her lobster hat.