Studies van romp en staart van een sterlet 1876 - 1924

Here is an artwork on paper, Studies van romp en staart van een sterlet, by Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof. This study of sturgeon anatomy reveals more than just scientific curiosity. The fish, a symbol of the primordial depths, has swum through human consciousness since the earliest times. Dijsselhof captures the sturgeon's sleek form with a precision reminiscent of ancient naturalists, yet there's a modern sensibility at play. The sturgeon, with its ancient lineage, can be seen in early creation myths, often associated with fertility and the origins of life. Recall the Babylonian god Ea, half-man, half-fish, embodying wisdom from the watery abyss. These archetypes persist, surfacing in art and dreams, reflecting our enduring fascination with the mysteries of existence. Dijsselhof's sturgeon swims in this same symbolic current, its image rippling through our collective memory, connecting us to the ancient past.