Bloem, een toren en een ontwerp c. 1889 - 1891

Editor: Here we have "Bloem, een toren en een ontwerp," which translates to "Flower, a Tower and a Design," created by Antoon Derkinderen around 1889 to 1891 using pencil on paper. It looks like a page from a sketchbook, with very light, tentative lines. There is a somewhat whimsical, unfinished quality to it. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Indeed, the preliminary nature of the drawing is quite striking. We should consider first the formal relationships between the disparate elements. The flower, a rather loose rendering, sits in opposition to the rectilinear designs. Consider the contrast in line quality. Notice how the architectural rendering at the top seems quite contained by comparison. Do you notice the implications in this juxtaposition? Editor: It’s interesting… The flower seems almost organic and free-flowing, while the architectural designs appear structured and rigid. It makes me think about the contrast between nature and the man-made environment. Curator: Precisely. Observe how the artist is contrasting two-dimensional design with observational studies. I see an inquiry into form itself – line, shape, and the negative space each object creates. Note too, how the lightness of touch creates an airy, ethereal feel, destabilizing the image so that no one object dominates. Editor: That’s a great point about the line quality contributing to the overall mood. I initially perceived it as unfinished, but now I see how that adds to the artwork's character, inviting me to linger longer. Curator: Well observed. And what seemed at first incomplete offers a rich landscape for visual analysis and semiotic play. We see through its apparent incompleteness, a sophisticated consideration of artistic form. Editor: Thank you. I now see the beauty and intention behind what I initially thought was just a sketch!