Zonder Titel 1959

Anton Heyboer created this untitled work in 1959, using paint and possibly ink on paper or canvas. The composition is a network of thin, dark lines that create figures and abstract shapes. The raw surface and the use of earth tones evoke a sense of primal expression. The work is divided into two sections, each with loosely drawn figures and geometric forms. On the left, we see figures that seem to float against the tan background, while the right side features grid-like patterns and more fragmented bodies. The contrast in composition may suggest different states of being or stages of life. Heyboer's mark-making has a calligraphic quality. It's almost like a language we can't quite decipher, but the act of writing, of imprinting, suggests a search for meaning. The circular form at the centre, bisected across the join, creates an echo of incompleteness, or duality, that invites us to consider the paradoxical aspects of existence. The artwork is a semiotic exercise, where signs point towards something beyond the surface.