Schets van vissen 1876 - 1924

Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof made this sketch of fish with pen and ink on paper. It's interesting to consider the materials, and how they influence our perception. The artist chose a humble support, a simple piece of paper, and then deployed ink, an ancient medium with a rich history tied to writing and drawing. Dijsselhof used quick strokes to capture the essence of these fish, focusing on their forms and expressions. The immediacy of the ink lends a sense of spontaneity to the work. You can see the artist's hand in every line, revealing the artistic process. Dijsselhof was clearly interested in the fish, but how much labor did he want to invest in this artwork? And what do these sketches tell us about the place of humans within the natural environment? These are the questions that make this seemingly simple sketch such an engaging and insightful piece.