Miraculous Draught of Fish

Art Historical Context

This etching captures the biblical miracle known as the Miraculous Draught of Fish, in which Christ directs his disciples to cast their nets once more after a fruitless night, resulting in an abundant catch. Created through the collaborative efforts of Flemish artist Pieter Soutman and the renowned Peter Paul Rubens, the print showcases dynamic male figures—some partially nude—straining against overflowing nets beside wooden boats, emphasizing themes of faith, abundance, and human effort. Dating to the early seventeenth century, the work reflects the Baroque interest in dramatic movement and emotional intensity, hallmarks of Rubens’s style that Soutman translated into the etching medium. As a print, this technique allowed the composition to reach wider audiences beyond the original painting, spreading religious narratives and artistic ideas across Europe during a period of religious and cultural upheaval. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, the sheet measures just under ten by thirteen inches, demonstrating how even modest-scale works could convey powerful stories. Its acquisition through the Elisha Whittelsey Fund underscores the enduring value of such prints in preserving and sharing Baroque visual traditions with modern viewers.

About the Artist

Pieter Soutman|Peter Paul Rubens (Dutch|Dutch) · 1580 |1628 –1657 |1658

Dutch, Haarlem, ca. 1580–1657 Haarlem|Dutch, Haarlem (?) 1628/29–1658 Amsterdam