Pike, pikeperch(zander) and eel 1922

Hélène Guinepied made this unnamed painting of a pike, pikeperch and eel, in an unknown medium, sometime in the early 20th century. The simple outlines and blocky application of pigment in this work give the feeling of something dashed off, yet considered. The paint is thin, allowing the off-white of the paper to come through and unify the composition. Notice the individual blades of eelgrass that dominate the center of the image: the way they are delineated with simple lines reminds us that everything we see is built from basic marks and gestures. I find this approach relatable. Art isn’t about perfection; it’s about process and the act of seeing and making, even when the subject is under water! It reminds me a little bit of Henri Rousseau and his fantastical, almost surreal approach to depicting the natural world. This piece embraces an ambiguous, multiple interpretation over fixed meanings and definitive statements.