Saturnus in een medaillon 1900 - 1903

Antoon Derkinderen made this drawing, Saturnus in een medaillon, in the late 19th or early 20th century, using graphite on paper. Look at this delicate network of graphite lines, mapping out a series of circular medallions. The artist seems to be working out how to bring together figurative elements within a larger composition. I can imagine Derkinderen with the pencil in his hand, thinking, erasing, re-thinking, as the design slowly emerges. I like the way the figures are embedded in the circles, almost like peering into different worlds. It reminds me of those early modernists playing with geometry and symbolism, trying to capture something ineffable. Derkinderen's mark-making is very particular, with a controlled softness. Each line feels carefully considered. There's something very personal and intimate about the piece. It’s as though we are witnessing the artist's thought process.