Schetsblad met verschillende vissen 1876 - 1924

This is "Schetsblad met verschillende vissen," a sketch sheet with various fish, created by Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof. Dijsselhof has produced this study using graphite on paper, an accessible medium for capturing initial ideas. But it's not just the choice of material that's significant; it's the act of sketching itself. Notice the lines, the varying pressure of the pencil, and the way Dijsselhof explores the form and texture of the fish. You can see how the artist is thinking through the materiality of the subject, translating its essence onto the page with each stroke. The immediacy of graphite allows for a direct connection between the artist’s hand and the paper, a tangible record of the creative process. This sketch is a great reminder that every artwork, no matter how polished, begins with such acts of exploration. Appreciating the artist’s process allows us to view the finished piece with a deeper understanding of its creation and the artist’s intention.