The artwork, titled “Big Fishes Eat Small Fishes,” created by Pieter Bruegel the Elder in 1556, is an allegorical painting associated with the Northern Renaissance. It utilizes ink, pen, brush, and paper as its medium and measures 22.6 x 29.5 cm. This piece is currently housed in the Albertina in Vienna, Austria.
“Big Fishes Eat Small Fishes” depicts a large fish lying on the shore, with its mouth open, teeming with smaller fish emerging from its belly. Human figures are intricately engaged in various activities around this central figure, including fishermen in a boat and individuals on the shore, creating a vivid and metaphorical representation. The scene is bustling with dynamic elements, including birds and smaller fishes in the air, adding to the complexity and richness of the narrative. This artwork is a profound visual commentary on the natural and societal hierarchies, rendered in Bruegel’s detailed and expressive style.
