Maanvis 1883 - 1931

Johannes Frederik Engelbert ten Klooster made this drawing of a ‘Maanvis’ or moonfish with pencil on paper. It’s about gesture, isn't it? A kind of shorthand to capture the essence of something. The delicate layering of graphite creates a soft, almost dreamlike texture, with thin lines that give a sense of the ocean's depths. The fish itself emerges from the paper as though it is materializing out of mist. I love the eyes, two small dark circles that stare right through you! There's a raw, immediate quality to the marks which, for me, evoke the immediacy of the creative process. This reminds me a bit of Odilon Redon's dreamlike charcoal drawings. Both share a similar sense of mystery and ambiguity, inviting viewers to dive into their own imaginations. Ultimately, art is a conversation, and this drawing adds a unique voice to the mix.