Ontwerp voor een bord met vier bruine, omlaagzwemmende vissen bij een witte iris c. 1875 - 1890

Gustave Fraipont designed this plate with watercolor and graphite. The arrangement features four brown fish swimming downwards beside a white iris. The composition is striking, as the design is neatly contained within a circle set against a dark, contrasting background. This contrast isolates the scene and intensifies our focus on the interior elements. The circular form itself enhances the composition, creating a sense of wholeness and containment that directs our gaze inwards. Fraipont’s use of cool, muted tones—pale blues, soft browns, and gentle greens—imparts a serene and almost dreamlike quality to the design. These colors work together to evoke a sense of tranquility, which aligns with the natural subject matter. The plate disrupts the conventional, symmetrical arrangements typical of decorative arts, opting for a more fluid and organic layout. This choice might reflect broader artistic movements of the time. The beauty of this design lies not just in its aesthetic appeal, but also in how its formal qualities suggest a deeper engagement with ideas of nature and art.