Schets van vissen in een aquarium 1876 - 1924

Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof created this sketch of fish in an aquarium using graphite and black chalk on paper. It is not known when the artwork was made. The materials here are very traditional art supplies. Paper supports the artist’s mark-making. Graphite and chalk are materials that allow for a range of marks, from delicate lines to bold strokes. Dijsselhof created a sense of depth and movement through the layering of these materials. The texture of the paper is visible beneath the marks, adding a tactile quality to the image. The processes involved here are of drawing and sketching, and are quick and immediate. But there’s also a sense of control and deliberation in the composition. The image reflects an interest in capturing a fleeting moment, as well as the artist's close observation of the aquarium. Ultimately, the drawing encourages us to appreciate the skill and labor involved in capturing such a scene, and the artistic labor behind a quick, simple sketch, dissolving the boundaries between fine art and craft.