Female Angler Fish with Parasitic Male

Tim Jerman, Female Angler Fish with Parasitic Male, 1999, flameworked glass, 5 5⁄8 x 4 3⁄8 x 1 5⁄8 in. (14.2 x 11.2 x 4.1 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Renwick Acquisitions Fund, 2000.26.2

Artwork Details

Title
Female Angler Fish with Parasitic Male
Artist
Date
1999
Location
Dimensions
5 5⁄8 x 4 3⁄8 x 1 5⁄8 in. (14.2 x 11.2 x 4.1 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase through the Renwick Acquisitions Fund
Mediums
Mediums Description
flameworked glass
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — fish — angler fish
Object Number
2000.26.2
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/2000.26.2

Artwork Description

This piece illustrates the bizarre bond between the male and female anglerfish. The male attaches himself to the female to tap into her bloodstream for food. After a while, the male’s eyes and gills seal shut, his heart and respiration stop, and he becomes an appendage, living only to fertilize the female’s eggs. Tim Jerman’s vivid caricature accentuates the contrast between the large, dominant female and tiny, dependant male.

Works by this artist (1036 items)

View all artworks
William H. Johnson, Portrait of a Man, ca. 1935-1938, oil on burlap, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.814
Portrait of a Man
Artist
Dateca. 1935-1938
oil on burlap
On view
William H. Johnson, Tehran Conference, ca. 1945, oil on plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.647
Tehran Conference
Artist
Dateca. 1945
oil on plywood
On view
William H. Johnson, Jim, 1930, oil on canvas, mounted on masonite, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.748
Jim
Artist
Date1930
oil on canvas, mounted on masonite
On view
William H. Johnson, Ferry Boat Trip, ca. 1943-1944, oil on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1011
Ferry Boat Trip
Artist
Dateca. 1943-1944
oil on paperboard
On view

Audio

TIM JERMAN

Born: Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 1957

Female Angler Fish with Parasitic Male

1999, glazed earthenware

 

Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -:-
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected

      More Artworks from the Collection

      Browse All Artworks
      William H. Johnson, Portrait of Jesper Anderson, ca. 1931-1932, watercolor, pen and ink, with pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.6
      Portrait of Jesper Anderson
      Artist
      Dateca. 1931-1932
      watercolor, pen and ink, with pencil on paper
      Not on view
      Will Heer, Untitled, 1920-1921, watercolor, ink and pencil on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Laura Dreyfus Barney in memory of her mother, Alice Pike Barney, 1974.93.16
      Untitled
      Artist
      Date1920-1921
      watercolor, ink and pencil on fiberboard
      Not on view
      Boardman Robinson, Study for mural of A History of Commerce, 1928, pen and ink, ink wash and watercolor on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Olin Dows, 1983.90.155
      Study for mural of A History of Commerce
      Artist
      Date1928
      pen and ink, ink wash and watercolor on paper
      Not on view
      Raymond Redell, Figure Composition, ca. 1930-1939, watercolor, india ink, gouache and pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Olin Dows, 1983.90.154
      Figure Composition
      Artist
      Dateca. 1930-1939
      watercolor, india ink, gouache and pencil on paper
      Not on view