Ontwerp voor een bord met rode, omhoogzwemmende vissen c. 1875 - 1890

Gustave Fraipont created this design for a plate with red, upward-swimming fish using graphite, watercolour, and gouache. The composition is immediately striking: a circular format, likely intended to mimic a plate, is populated with freely drawn elements. Fraipont disrupts traditional perspectives by presenting the fish as if viewed from below, challenging our sense of spatial orientation. The palette is restrained, dominated by muted reds and greens, which underscores the design’s decorative purpose. The stark contrast between the dark background and the lighter central motif enhances the visual impact. The design blends naturalism with stylization. The fish and plant life are rendered with enough detail to be recognizable, yet they are simplified to fit the aesthetic of applied arts. There is a semiotic interplay at work between the design’s form and function. This interplay invites viewers to question the boundaries between art and everyday object, reflecting the period's broader interest in integrating artistic principles into industrial design. The artist's choice to depict upward-swimming fish carries symbolic weight. The overall design serves not only as a decorative motif but also as a cultural artifact.