Waterplanten 1892 - 1931

Henri Verstijnen made this watery scene with graphite on paper. Look at the way the graphite softly renders the plants, the little fish, and the peculiar orb at the center. You can almost imagine Verstijnen’s hand moving across the page, carefully layering the graphite to create the impression of depth and movement. I wonder what Verstijnen was thinking as he drew this. Was he trying to capture the tranquility of an underwater world, or was he more interested in the formal qualities of the plants and light? The central orb is such an odd shape; I’m curious about why he chose to place it so prominently. Like many artists, Verstijnen was in conversation with other artists, drawing on their ideas and techniques while also forging his own path. Ultimately, this piece invites us to engage with the world in a more thoughtful and imaginative way. It reminds us that art is not just about what we see, but how we see it.