Studieblad, onder andere met figuren en een haan op een ton c. 1904 - 1906

Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof made this study sheet, including figures and a rooster on a barrel, with pencil. Dijsselhof’s marks are understated, even delicate. It feels like he barely touched the paper, preferring to suggest rather than state. It’s as though he’s inviting us into his thought process, showing us the beginnings of an idea rather than a finished piece. I love the way he’s captured the essence of each figure with so few lines; the woman walking her dog, the girl carrying a basket, and the rooster crowing atop the barrel. Each figure is defined by the barest of marks, quickly rendered but full of personality. The birds flocking in the sky and pecking on the ground are particularly charming. This reminds me of the quick sketches of Honoré Daumier or Constantin Guys, artists who sought to capture the fleeting moments of everyday life. Dijsselhof leaves space for our imaginations to wander.