Sea Monsters
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.
Child Being Attacked by Fish
I am thankful that creatures like this do not actually inhabit the ocean.
Cyprinus Rarus & Monstrosus
A carp with the face of a man certainly would be rare and monstrous!
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!
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.