Ducdalven 1979

Marinus Fuit made this understated work, Ducdalven, sometime in the late 20th century. At first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking this was some architect's technical drawing, so precise is the depiction of these, what, mooring dolphins? I wonder what was going through Fuit's mind as he painstakingly shaded each form, lending them solidity and weight. Was he simply interested in representing these functional objects, or was there something more? Was he trying to see if he could make art out of something that is normally not considered beautiful? He renders the scene in shades of grey and white, a limited palette that emphasizes the geometric forms and textures of the dolphins. The subtle gradations of tone create a sense of depth and volume, and you could be mistaken for thinking that they existed in the real world. In this drawing, he manages to make us question what art is, and what it can be.