210 [The Ribband Fish]

Edwards, George, 1694-1773 · [ca. 1751]

An untitled piece, this distinctive print portrays three varieties of fish. Labeled as plate 210 within volume IV of natural historian George Edwards' A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, the print is alternatively known as The Ribband Fish. Though primarily an ornithologist, Edwards included numerous non-avian creatures within his anthology A Natural History of Birds, originally published as the four-volume A Natural History of Uncommon Birds (1743-51) and its three-volume successor Gleanings from Natural History (1758-64). Edwards drew the piece c. 1751 after careful observation of the subjects, then taught himself copperplate engraving techniques to print his art as well. With little thought to composition, Edwards placed each fish in the middle of an otherwise blank page; his later addition of watercolor paint to the figures helps them stand out against their background. Short, densely packed hatch marks suggest shading yet unfortunately add a dominant texture reminiscent of fur rather than scales. Despite the lack of accurate texture and hue within the fish, Edwards' juxtaposition of light and dark values creates accurate three-dimensionality.