Studies van een poon, met kleurnotities 1876 - 1924

Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof made these studies of a red mullet, with colour notes, using graphite and charcoal on paper. Dijsselhof’s graphic choices speak to a culture steeped in the aesthetics of drawing as a mode of scientific inquiry and artistic expression. Graphite and charcoal, the core materials, aren't just mediums, but messengers of intent. Their capacity to capture light and shadow, and to articulate form with nuanced precision, makes the image more than a sketch; it’s a tactile encounter with the natural world. The way the artist coaxes the graphite and charcoal to depict the fish has a social significance. This approach reflects an era where observation and analysis were prized virtues, and artistic skill was seen as a window into understanding the very essence of life. Dijsselhof’s drawing is not merely representational, but rather an invitation to consider the interrelationship of art, science, and society.