Original drawing by Marcel Bourgeois, 1960, Carassine, Graphite on paper

The work is by Marcel Bourgeois, an ichthyologist and illustrator active between the 1940s and 1970s. A frequent contributor to scientific publications and popular works devoted to freshwater and aquarium fish, he is renowned for the rigorous precision of his naturalist drawings. This drawing, dated April 20, 1960, and titled "Carassine – 4e étude, " presents a specimen of Carassius auratus (a variety of goldfish) seen from the side, accompanied by a complementary study of the head seen from the front. The attention paid to scales, volumes, and the expressiveness of the gaze illustrate the author's concern for documentation and artistry.