25-jarig regeringsjubileum Wilhelmina 1923

Patricq Kroon made this energetic drawing celebrating Queen Wilhelmina’s 25th Jubilee, sometime between 1898-1923 using ink on paper. The artist's hand seems to have danced across the page, leaving behind a flurry of lines and symbols. I can imagine Kroon, hunched over his paper, lost in thought as the image unfolds. Was he thinking about civic pride, or was he just caught up in the sheer joy of mark-making? The ink is thin and precise, allowing for a dense layering of forms that almost vibrate with energy. Look at the way he varies the weight and direction of each stroke! Some are bold and assertive, while others are delicate and fleeting. It makes me think about other artists like Paul Klee, who also explored the intersection of text and image in his work. Ultimately, this drawing invites us to slow down, to linger, and to embrace the delightful messiness of interpretation.