Le Chelys ou la tortine before 1828

Pierre Félix van Doren created this drawing, "Le Chelys ou la tortine," at an undetermined date, using graphite on paper. The composition is immediately striking for its circular enclosure, within which a stylized lyre dominates. The drawing's lines, though delicate, structure a complex interplay of curves and geometric forms. Van Doren uses the lyre, a classical symbol of harmony and order, to create a pattern. The instrument's strings, rendered as straight, vertical lines, contrast with the fluid ribbons that surround it, creating a visual tension that animates the entire composition. The base of the lyre, adorned with a star, adds a layer of symbolic depth, hinting at aspirations. Note how the precision of the lines suggests a deep engagement with the principles of design and order. This attention to form and structure serves not just an aesthetic purpose but also engages with philosophical concepts of representation, inviting us to decode the underlying meanings embedded within its carefully constructed form.