A painting of “What have we here, a man or a fish? Dead or   alive? A fish, he smells like a fish—a very ancient   and fishlike smell, a kind of not-of-the-newest poor-John.   A strange fish." with muted colours and soft brushstrokes that give the painting a foreboding feeling, while the simple composition creates a sense of order and harmony. The painting captures the spiritual qualities of the unnatural world.