Ontwerp voor de Tweede Bossche Wand: de laatste van de vijf wijze maagden 1869 - 1925

Antoon Derkinderen created this design for the Second Bossche Wall, depicting the last of the five wise virgins, using gouache and graphite. The composition is strikingly simple. We see a palette of muted reds, greens and yellows, divided into clear horizontal registers. The forms are simplified, almost archetypal, evoking a sense of solemnity. The figure is presented with clear lines and limited shading, which flattens the image and reinforces its symbolic nature. The virgin’s gaze, directed upwards, leads our eye beyond the immediate frame, suggesting a world of divine expectations. The rhythmic repetition of the archways and horizontal bands creates a structural harmony. This reflects Derkinderen's engagement with symbolism and his interest in conveying spiritual truths through simplified forms. This design, with its emphasis on structure and symbolic representation, invites us to consider how an artwork distills complex narratives into essential visual components, thereby creating meaning through form.