Voorstudie voor de Eerste Bossche Wand: drie studies van een monnik 1869 - 1925

Antoon Derkinderen rendered these studies of a monk in graphite on paper. It is a preliminary sketch for a mural. The material simplicity of graphite belies its utility. It has been favored for centuries by artists for its ready availability, ease of use, and capacity for subtle tonal gradations. In this sketch, Derkinderen captures the texture and weight of the monk's robe with simple strokes and shading. The sketchiness of the rendering invites us to consider the artist’s process. We see the monk in three different poses, each capturing a different aspect of the figure. The visible marks and erasures are part of the aesthetic. There is a certain degree of labor involved to reach the final mural. This underscores the craft-like approach to design, where the hand of the maker is evident and valued.