De vijf dwaze en de vijf wijze maagden c. 1869 - 1925

Curator: This work is titled "De vijf dwaze en de vijf wijze maagden," or "The Five Foolish and the Five Wise Virgins," by Antoon Derkinderen. It is likely from between 1869 and 1925 and realized using watercolor and drawing on paper. What are your initial impressions? Editor: It feels incomplete, almost ghostly, but there's a strong sense of architectural structure and procession. The limited palette also evokes a feeling of faded grandeur. Curator: Indeed. It appears to be an unfinished study or design. Considering Derkinderen's involvement with craft movements, the meticulous lines and watercolor washes likely point towards a planned larger-scale work, perhaps a mural or stained glass design, echoing medieval aesthetics. Editor: Formally, the division of space is striking. The central panel, flanked by the groups of virgins, immediately draws the eye, with the inscription "Ecce ego facio nova" acting as a unifying element. There is strong bilateral symmetry at play. Curator: I'm intrigued by how the materiality itself—the deliberate sketchiness—speaks to the means of production. It shows the labor and planning that goes into realizing grand artistic concepts. We glimpse the process, resisting the illusionism often prized in ‘finished’ works of high art. Editor: The subdued colors and the slightly awkward drawing lend it a powerful feeling. Although Derkinderen harkens back to medieval themes, the visual choices invite modern readings—its fragility creates a very particular expression. Curator: I see that. The unfinished quality underscores that this artwork provides an interesting perspective into art production itself—how images were crafted to resonate politically, spiritually, and socially. The means become almost as meaningful as the final expression. Editor: Precisely. Thinking about form, material, and their combination as tools—visual language with its own agency! Curator: Looking closely and contextually helps unravel Derkinderen's artistic process, highlighting its intricate construction rather than seeing it merely as a failed attempt. Editor: A very evocative work, even in its incompletion. A fascinating case where formal and historical investigations reinforce each other.