Exocoetus Exsiliens - The Swallow

by Marcus Elieser Bloch

Sailing elegantly through the realms of marine biology and fine art, the "Exocoetus Exsiliens – The Swallow" is a magnificent 18th century copper plate engraving taken from the great work on ichthyology by Marcus Elieser Bloch. Called "The Swallow" because of its large and wide pectoral fins resembling those of a swallow, this fish is beautifully depicted with remarkable scientific accuracy.

Produced in Berlin between 1782 and 1795, the works of Bloch are renowned for their delicate coloring, metallic highlights, and the textures which give life to the creature's aerodynamics. Depicting the fish with amazing scientific accuracy, the artwork captures the creature's majestic and dark pectoral fins and iridescent scales of the body.