Fortuna Redux 1869 - 1925

Antoon Derkinderen created the watercolor Fortuna Redux, whose title translates to "Returning Fortune" or "Fortuna who brings back". Derkinderen lived through a period of immense social change, experiencing two world wars which shook the foundations of European society and its established gender and class structures. The artwork portrays a man, perhaps a soldier, who is walking into a new future, and a woman who may represent Fortuna, the goddess of fortune, greeting him with what appears to be a gift. The man is depicted with a walking stick, seemingly symbolizing the arduous journey or struggle he has endured. Fortuna places a hand on his shoulder, offering comfort and guidance, while the star in the sky offers a message of hope, the doves evoke peace and renewal. It suggests themes of resilience, hope, and the possibility of finding fortune even after enduring hardship. It resonates with the idea of renewal and the cyclical nature of life, of history, perhaps inviting us to contemplate our own journeys.