Ontwerp voor wandschildering in de Beurs van Berlage: staande man met banderol 1869 - 1925

Antoon Derkinderen made this drawing, "Ontwerp voor wandschildering in de Beurs van Berlage: staande man met banderol," using graphite on paper. It's a study for a mural, depicting a standing figure holding a blank banner. The muted tones create a contemplative atmosphere. The composition emphasizes verticality, drawing our eyes upwards. Notice how the figure's simple, almost geometric form and clothing give a sense of classical dignity. The banner itself is intriguing. Its emptiness invites interpretation. The work’s formal structure echoes early Renaissance styles, characterized by clarity and order. The controlled lines and balanced shapes underscore a sense of stability and measured thought. Derkinderen’s approach uses classicism not as a rigid form, but as a structure through which new ideas might emerge. The blank banner serves not just as a design element but as a sign, waiting for content. It destabilizes fixed meanings and engages with new ways of thinking about representation.