Watercolor on paper · 24 × 14 in. · Unframed
Fishy Fishy is more than a study of aquatic life. These were Dell’s own fish, creatures he lived with and observed within the environment he created around himself. Like the flowers he grew and later painted, the subject came directly from his own world.
A large ornamental fish dominates the composition, its sweeping red fins and individually worked scales rendered in layers of red, gold, blue, violet, and white. A smaller orange fish approaches from the opposite side while a tiny crustacean-like figure rises beneath them. Against the deep green and blue washes of the water, the fish appear suspended in their own private world.
Dell’s attention is remarkably intimate. The patterns of the scales, translucent fins, eyes, and small peculiarities of each creature suggest familiarity rather than a generalized depiction of fish. There is humor here as well—the exaggerated presence of the central fish and the curious meeting of the smaller creatures give the watercolor a personality that feels almost like a portrait.
That personal connection is important to understanding Dell’s watercolors. He repeatedly painted what was immediately around him: the things he grew, kept, found, made, and lived alongside. Fishy Fishy preserves one small piece of that private environment.
Condition/Presentation: Unframed work on paper.
Watercolor on paper · 24 × 14 in. · Unframed
Fishy Fishy is more than a study of aquatic life. These were Dell’s own fish, creatures he lived with and observed within the environment he created around himself. Like the flowers he grew and later painted, the subject came directly from his own world.
A large ornamental fish dominates the composition, its sweeping red fins and individually worked scales rendered in layers of red, gold, blue, violet, and white. A smaller orange fish approaches from the opposite side while a tiny crustacean-like figure rises beneath them. Against the deep green and blue washes of the water, the fish appear suspended in their own private world.
Dell’s attention is remarkably intimate. The patterns of the scales, translucent fins, eyes, and small peculiarities of each creature suggest familiarity rather than a generalized depiction of fish. There is humor here as well—the exaggerated presence of the central fish and the curious meeting of the smaller creatures give the watercolor a personality that feels almost like a portrait.
That personal connection is important to understanding Dell’s watercolors. He repeatedly painted what was immediately around him: the things he grew, kept, found, made, and lived alongside. Fishy Fishy preserves one small piece of that private environment.
Condition/Presentation: Unframed work on paper.
