1892
Visitekaartje van Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof
Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof
1866 - 1924Location
RijksmuseumListen to curator's interpretation
Curatorial notes
This is Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof's calling card, crafted in woodcut, brimming with natural and heraldic symbols. The fish above Dijsselhof's name evokes a sense of fertility and abundance, yet its stylized form also reminds us of ancient river deities. These figures surface in mosaics and reliefs throughout the ancient world, reborn here. The image engages primal emotions linked to growth and sustenance. Below, the stylized shells echo both protection and life's generative forces. This card isn't merely a means of introduction. It’s a statement, embedding the bearer within a continuum of cultural and natural motifs. It reminds me that the impulse to adorn and imbue meaning into our everyday objects is a legacy passed down through generations. A powerful urge to connect with the deep, subconscious currents that run through human experience.