Studies van een vis, met kleurnotities 1876 - 1924

Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof made this drawing, "Studies van een vis, met kleurnotities," with a graphite pencil. Dijsselhof was working in the Netherlands at the turn of the 20th century, a time when artists were thinking deeply about the relationship between art and design. The Dutch Arts and Crafts movement was growing in popularity. "Studies van een vis, met kleurnotities" is a preparatory sketch which may have been undertaken in relation to the creation of a larger work. The artist’s notations about color suggest he may have been considering the way color might be applied to create a decorative scheme. Dijsselhof's interest in pattern and design reflects a broader cultural desire to unify art and life. This can be understood as a reaction to the industrial revolution, during which art and design had become fragmented. To understand Dijsselhof's work fully, it helps to look at the social and artistic circles he moved in, consulting exhibition catalogs, design journals, and other primary source material from the period. That gives a broader view of this moment in Dutch cultural history.