Seafood Still Lifes

Fish-headed waiters and tentacles of ancient gods — Arcimboldo, Heda, and Snyders at the Mediterranean table

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While the fish-headed waiters shout at each other in an unrecognisable tongue…

Arcimboldo built human portraits out of objects, e.g. his “Water” is a face made entirely of fish, crustaceans, and marine life: not exactly the waiter’s face but vibe-wise close enough!

Arcimboldo, Water (1566)
Arcimboldo, Water (1566)

On the porcelain plate right in front of me lies a slightly charred squirming tentacle of an ancient god, drizzled with saffron aioli.

Twenty rock oysters rest on the mountain of ice right in the middle of our table.

Willem Claesz Heda, Still Life with Oysters, a Rummer, a Lemon and a Silver Bowl
Willem Claesz Heda, Still Life with Oysters, a Rummer, a Lemon and a Silver Bowl
Frans Snyders, Fish Stall
Frans Snyders, Fish Stall