Ontwerp voor de haak van een paraplu 1874 - 1932

Editor: This is "Ontwerp voor de haak van een paraplu" which translates to "Design for the hook of an umbrella" by Mathieu Lauweriks. The drawing, made with pencil, dates sometime between 1874 and 1932. The rigid lines and circles remind me of technical drawings... How would you interpret this work? Curator: Observe how the composition is anchored by the grid of the paper itself, an imposed structure against which Lauweriks plays. The arc of the umbrella handle dominates the visual field. The precise rendering suggests functionality, yet the floating circles introduce an element of abstraction. The line work also hints at three-dimensionality without fully committing to it. What effect do you think those two qualities bring? Editor: It's almost as if the technical drawing attempts to be an abstraction, to transcend utility. Curator: Precisely. Lauweriks's subversion of the grid using a common tool evokes dialogue. Also, see how the varying densities of pencil strokes create a sense of light and shadow, not typically found in blueprints. Do you see how that slight depth brings out the feeling in the piece? Editor: That's a good point! The contrast of the weight and texture is more pronounced because of its formal presentation. Curator: The composition then becomes an exploration of form and function through purely visual means. We can see the semiotic relationship between geometry and everyday objects explored and rendered in the drawing. Editor: I hadn’t considered how those geometric shapes work as their own forms and symbols, too. Thanks! Curator: Of course! Now, where does the artist take us?