Big Fish Eat Little Fish
September, 2004
woodcut print, 12"x15"

This woodcut was based on a detail from Pieter Bruegel the Elder's drawing from 1556 titled "Big Fish Eat Little Fish" . The style of border I used was appropriated from woodcuts by a 16th century artist named Hans Doring. The fishy people were inspired by similar human-fish creatures in the central panel of Bosch's "Garden of Earthly Delights" triptych. The printing block was carved in Poplar (this was my first woodcut, I do not recommend poplar as fine details can chip easily, fruit woods such pear or apple work very well), the ink is oil based.