Aquarium met drie Noordzee vissen: Zeekreeft, Hondshaai en Schol c. 1876 - 1924

Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof made this watercolor of an aquarium with sea creatures at an unknown date. It contains a lobster, a dogfish shark, and a plaice. Dijsselhof was working in the Netherlands, and his style had clear affinities with the Amsterdam Impressionism of the day, but his later work was more influenced by the decorative arts. This image might be interpreted in this context. The grouping of animals looks deliberately arranged rather than natural. It feels like an exercise in composition and the use of color and form, rather than a work of scientific observation. The blue lobster takes center stage. Art historians rely on a range of period sources to help understand an artwork. These could include exhibition catalogs, letters, and reviews. These help us understand its place in the artistic and social world of its time. What does it say about the relationship between art, science, and society?