Studies van een sidderaal 1876 - 1924

Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof created these studies of an electric eel using graphite. Observe how the eel, a creature of the deep, takes on symbolic weight. Throughout history, aquatic beings have represented the subconscious, their elusive nature mirroring the depths of our minds. The eel, with its hidden electrical power, amplifies this, becoming a potent symbol of unseen forces. The eel's form echoes the serpent, a motif that slithers through cultures, from the Ouroboros of ancient Egypt to the biblical serpent of temptation. It embodies primal energy, a force that can heal or harm, enlighten or corrupt, depending on its use. In Dijsselhof's study, the eel's latent power evokes both fascination and a sense of primordial awe. Consider the image of the eel, not just as a biological specimen, but as a carrier of cultural memory, resurfacing time and again in our collective psyche.