Gondel 1739 - 1812

This is "Gondel," a delicate drawing by Johannes le Francq van Berkhey, likely executed with watercolor or ink on paper. The artwork presents a study in form and texture. The sinuous outline of the fish dominates the composition, set against the stark white background. The scales, rendered with meticulous detail, create a play of light and shadow, enhancing the three-dimensionality of the subject. The fins, almost translucent, add a contrasting lightness. Van Berkhey's strategic use of tonal variations—from the darker dorsal area to the lighter belly—draws our eye along the length of the fish. The composition is simple, almost clinical, yet the texture transforms the image from a mere diagram into an evocative study of nature. This precise and objective representation of the fish is less about capturing an individual specimen and more about exploring the universal, underlying structures and natural forms.