Kroonlijsten 1876 - 1924

Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof made these sketches of cornices with pencil on paper. These aren't the traditional materials of art, but rather the everyday tools of design and architectural planning. Dijsselhof’s drawings capture the essence of woodwork and craftsmanship. The weight and presence of the cornices, which were generally made of plaster or wood, are evident even in these preliminary designs. The artist used the inherent qualities of the pencil to convey form and texture. Dijsselhof was deeply involved in the Arts and Crafts movement, and the creation of moldings in architecture highlights the skilled traditions and aesthetic principles of the movement. Cornices are a vital part of interior design, influencing perceptions of space, light, and proportion, and would have been carefully considered during the design phase of a building. Paying attention to the materials and processes through which Dijsselhof captured these design considerations is an important reminder that these are not simply functional elements, but also significant cultural artifacts that reflect a complex history of aesthetics, labor, and class.