Mercurius 1869 - 1925

Antoon Derkinderen created this drawing, Mercurius, using graphite. The preliminary sketch has an ethereal quality as the lines are softly rendered, barely there, creating an image that feels more like a fleeting vision than a solid form. The figure of Mercurius is centered, yet almost dissolves into the white background. The carefully constructed composition is where Derkinderen explores the semiotics of form, challenging our perceptions through the figure's incomplete rendering. Note the caduceus in Mercurius' left hand, its spiraling snakes are symbols of commerce and negotiation. The interplay between presence and absence in Derkinderen's lines isn't merely about depicting a classical figure; it's a commentary on visibility, knowledge, and the elusive nature of meaning itself.