Studies van vinnen 1876 - 1924

Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof created this pencil drawing, "Studies van vinnen," whose date is unknown. At first glance, the composition, with its stark contrasts of light and shadow, appears to be an exploration into the morphology of fish fins, yet the forms feel like an exercise in abstraction. Dijsselhof's emphasis on line and form suggests a deeper engagement with the underlying structure of the natural world. Through a semiotic lens, we might read the fins not just as biological structures, but as signs pointing to broader themes of movement, adaptation, and the inherent geometry found in nature. The artist is playing with a visual vocabulary that destabilizes the boundary between representation and abstraction. Consider the artist's strategic use of negative space which invites us to contemplate what is not explicitly drawn. This piece operates as a site for philosophical inquiry, questioning our conventional modes of perception and understanding.