Atlas 1900 - 1903

Here, Antoon Derkinderen sketches Atlas, his shoulders hunched under the weight of a sphere. This enduring image, drawn with a simple pencil, carries the profound weight of mythic responsibility. Atlas, in his eternal struggle, reminds us of burdens carried, both visible and unseen. This image echoes across millennia, from ancient Greek sculptures to Renaissance depictions. Consider Michelangelo's Atlas Slave; the raw emotion etched in his face mirrors the silent endurance here. The sphere, too, is heavy with symbolism. It is more than just Earth. It symbolizes the cosmos, fate, and the very structure of existence. Atlas is not just bearing weight but embodying the struggle against chaos, an archetype that surfaces time and again. Think of Sisyphus, forever rolling his boulder. We all carry burdens, visible or not. This drawing captures the heart of human endurance. The image resonates through time, reminding us of the enduring power of shared symbols.