Reproductie van een tekening naar een muurschildering in de Schepenzaal in het Stadhuis van Kortrijk, voorstellende Filips van de Elzas before 1876

Curator: This sketch from before 1876 reproduces a mural depicting Philip of Alsace from the Town Hall of Kortrijk. The original mural itself must have been a potent symbol of civic pride. Editor: There’s a quiet grandeur to it, even in this monochromatic form. The sharp lines and deliberate shading create a solemn mood; the crown and sword clearly communicate power. Curator: Absolutely, and Philip of Alsace represents more than just personal power. His reign in the 12th century was a time of flourishing trade and culture for Flanders. That sword, of course, is a classic symbol, representing justice and authority, but consider the possibility that its mere presence serves to conjure all the attributes and concepts of kingship and governance for the medieval burghers of Kortrijk. Editor: Yes, but that’s also because the sketch employs a masterful use of hatching to define volume, making it all seem three-dimensional even without color or bold contrasting marks. And notice how the figure is framed in a slightly arching recess, a sort of faux architectural setting. The composition directs our eye and adds visual weight to the subject. Curator: You make an interesting point. That arch, and the all-over repetition of floral elements around it, reminds me of the importance of the institutions associated with his kingship, alluded to with that heading atop his portrait, and thus to law and governance as key pillars of societal evolution in Kortrijk, despite this drawing's more workaday appearance as a record or draft. Editor: Precisely. Form reinforces content. And there’s a delicate typography at play here as well, not just as informational text, but integral to the sketch's visual rhythm. The composition on each page is an important factor here; one supports the visual narrative with its textural elements of text and paper, and the other establishes authority with simple lines. Curator: I see what you mean. The sketch and text, taken together, construct a narrative far beyond what a simple image or historical document alone can communicate about regional history and the evolution of symbols over time. Editor: Indeed. The bare, yet refined, technique serves the subject well and evokes a unique feel of bygone centuries.