Rust van de oude dag, door Voorzorg en Liefde 1869 - 1925

Curator: Before us we have “Rust van de oude dag, door Voorzorg en Liefde”, which translates to "Rest in old age, through Prevention and Love," a watercolor, tempera, and ink drawing on paper made sometime between 1869 and 1925 by Antoon Derkinderen. Editor: My first impression is…stark. The palette is restrained—almost monastic. And yet, those little doves perched atop the central arch are weirdly cheerful. Curator: Indeed, that combination creates tension. On the sides we see doorways labeled "Directie" and "Commissarissen" – signaling perhaps governance and management. In the center, under the word "Rust," or rest, two figures are seated before what looks like a perpetually burning flame. The symbolism evokes hearth and home. But also… eternal watchfulness. Editor: Yes, "eternal watchfulness" has a touch of the ominous to it! Especially because the figures look so very still, almost like classical statues painted in a somber key. Perhaps it is meant to remind the “Directie” and the "Commissarissen" of their moral responsibilities for providing tranquility and warmth, that "Rust," for those under their care in old age. Curator: The piece feels decidedly allegorical, pointing perhaps to societal constructs around aging and the balance between security, love, and societal governance. There’s an architectural precision, which aligns with Derkinderen's frequent rendering of symbolic spaces laden with moral messaging. Editor: I keep coming back to that flame… is it comfort or eternal burden? I wonder what sort of conversations Derkinderen imagined the figures having near that perpetual fire. Perhaps tales of days gone, perhaps simply grateful contemplation, perhaps, yes, it symbolizes the flame of a burden, with an institution being vigilant to ensure that flame is always ablaze. Curator: He presents these intertwined and contradictory readings skillfully through very simple compositional choices and subdued coloring. A muted masterpiece of intention, open to multiple interpretations. Editor: Absolutely. A very muted but thought-provoking piece that certainly makes you think about what exactly rest might mean in different life phases.