Studies van een kreeft, met kleurnotities 1876 - 1924

Curator: Well, isn't this peculiar? I'm drawn in by this sketch; it's light and airy but crowded. Like a daydream you're trying to capture before it vanishes. Editor: You've hit the nail on the head! We're looking at Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof's "Studies van een Kreeft, met Kleurnotities" - or "Studies of a Lobster, with Colour Notes." Created between 1876 and 1924, it gives us a peek into the artist's process. Curator: A lobster! I didn't quite catch that amidst all the scribbles and, are those colour notes? I see hints of white and black. It feels spontaneous, very much a raw, unfiltered idea finding its way onto paper. What can you tell us about its place, and its time? Editor: Dijsselhof was active in a fascinating period. The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed burgeoning interest in the decorative arts in the Netherlands, especially those drawing influence from the east. He straddled multiple styles— from symbolism and Art Nouveau to elements echoing Javanese art and design which certainly informs this somewhat chaotic sketchbook study. The Rijksmuseum houses this and others, hinting at his comprehensive study practices. Curator: So, in his era, sketches were perceived...differently? Editor: Absolutely! Today, we might see it as an incomplete work, but in Dijsselhof's time and artistic circles, the sketch was gaining recognition as an art form. A glimpse into the artist's mind, if you will. Before painting in its final form, the sketch stood for the inception, it was like taking an artist directly, with no dilution, on a tangent with the artwork. Curator: Yes, the more I stare at it the less a scientific study of the lobster this is! It has this delightful quirkiness—almost cartoonish—and I admire how it shows both artistic intent and scientific consideration, which speaks about both disciplines' important roles to further understand each other. It's lovely, I think. It really makes you see the world a little more playfully. Editor: Indeed, Dijsselhof blurs boundaries—between preparation and artwork, scientific study and personal expression. It makes us think about what we expect from an art experience. A truly captivating piece from our collection.