Letter 'e' 1889 - 1894

Curator: So here we have Antoon Derkinderen's "Letter 'e'", dating back to somewhere between 1889 and 1894, rendered in pencil on paper. It's fascinating to me how a simple preparatory sketch can have such impact. What's your initial impression? Editor: Immediately, I think of secret societies. This letter, the 'e', isn't just an 'e', it's a code. Like a Freemason symbol hinting at something beyond the obvious. I wonder if the geometric forms hovering above the main letter are keys to deciphering the true meaning. Curator: Interesting! I hadn’t considered it in such a conspiratorial light. I’m more captivated by the raw geometric foundation. The grid beneath and those faint lines… You can almost sense the artist grappling with structure and form. There’s a certain reverence for the letter as an architectural element. Editor: Well, even in architecture, symbolism hides. Look at Gothic cathedrals – every measurement, every arch, whispers ancient stories. I feel that here too, the 'e' isn't simply a letter. Think of its place in language! Email! Encryption! It's about layers, communication... secrets, always secrets. Curator: Perhaps. For me, there is a sort of elegant vulnerability in the drawing’s exposure. The letter is laid bare, revealing its inner skeleton, rather than cloaking itself in elegant fonts or elaborate designs. Editor: Precisely! That's how the best-kept secrets are revealed, aren’t they? Disguised as simplicity, staring you in the face, unassuming. You could walk right past it, never suspecting a thing. Curator: So, do you feel closer to uncovering the secrets hidden within "Letter 'e'", or just a little bit more intrigued by its potential to communicate volumes through deceptively simple forms? Editor: Both, really! I am starting to suspect every letter has an occult double-life. Next time I write one, I’ll think of Derkinderen and be more aware of the possible meanings lying in wait.