Koning 1923 - 1925

This is Saar de Swart's bronze 'Koning' from around the turn of the last century. The muted, mossy surface gives the piece a weight that feels very real and enduring; a testament to the slow, considered process of the sculptor’s hand. The King and his attendants exist in a formal composition, but I'm drawn to the small details, like the subtle variations in texture across the surface. Look closely, and you’ll see the traces of the artist's tools – the marks and indentations that reveal the physicality of the material, and the labor that went into its creation. The patination, with its subtle variations in tone, only serves to accentuate every little lump and bump. There’s a stillness and solemnity about the piece. It makes me think of Rodin, perhaps, but with a distinctly earthy sensibility and a softer, more intimate touch. Like all great art, it's a conversation across time, open to multiple interpretations, and full of endless possibilities.