Studies van vissen 1876 - 1924

Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof captured these Studies van vissen using graphite. The fish motif, seemingly simple, carries profound symbolic weight. Throughout history, the fish has appeared in myriad forms, from ancient fertility symbols to Christian iconography representing abundance and faith. Consider the fish in Roman mosaics, where it symbolized prosperity and the bountiful sea, or the early Christian use of the fish as a secret symbol, the 'Ichthys,' a coded reference to Christ during times of persecution. Here, Dijsselhof's fish might evoke a sense of the subconscious, mirroring how the symbol taps into our collective memory. The fish is a psychological vessel, swimming through the depths of human experience, laden with cultural significance, constantly evolving and resurfacing in new artistic forms.