Studies van een poon 1876 - 1924

Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof made this sketch of a red mullet on paper. The fish, a creature of the sea, has always been loaded with symbolism. Throughout history, the fish motif emerges in various cultures as a symbol of fertility, abundance, and transformation. In early Christian art, the fish, or "ichthys," became a coded symbol representing Jesus Christ, a visual language to be recognized by believers. Consider its recurrence in ancient Roman mosaics or even earlier, in Minoan frescoes, where marine life is depicted with reverence. The persistence of the fish as a symbol speaks to our collective unconscious, a subconscious recognition of life's mysteries. From the depths of the sea to the canvas, the fish traverses time, echoing in our minds the primal connection to nature and the unknown. It's an enduring motif, reminding us of the cyclical nature of existence and the emotional currents that run deep within our shared human experience.