Apostelen Simon 1609 - 1670

Curator: What we have here is "Apostelen Simon" or "Apostle Simon," a charcoal drawing rendered some time between 1609 and 1670 by Karel van Mander III, currently residing here at the Statens Museum for Kunst. The figure almost bursts out of the confines of that unusual octagonal shape. Editor: He looks burdened, doesn't he? The way he clutches his hands to his chest... there’s a sense of quiet resignation, perhaps a premonition of what’s to come? Curator: Indeed. While it’s tempting to simply view it as a study of a face and hands, that gesture, the hands clasped tightly, suggests vulnerability, and introspection. As Simon was, according to some traditions, martyred by being sawn in half, the emotional intensity and psychological depth the artist seems to pursue here gains a particularly charged resonance. Editor: Martyrdom! Oh, absolutely. Now that you mention it, there's something about the stark lighting that feels almost theatrical. The face is so much more detailed than the rest, which directs you immediately towards it. All of that detail becomes this very strong emotional pull. Curator: Karel van Mander III seemed especially good at orchestrating a sense of controlled emotional drama using line and shading to shape the contours of not just the face but the soul within it. Look how the fall of light etches into the figure's features. The image really captures this almost Mannerist flair for the dynamic potential latent in figuration. Editor: There’s a sense of immediacy. The charcoal medium definitely adds to that, giving it a raw, almost sketch-like quality. You feel like you're right there, witnessing a moment of deep internal struggle. It's interesting how a drawing can speak volumes without color. Curator: What speaks to me particularly is its cultural weight and visual symbols. Van Mander’s capacity to connect us, across centuries, with these iconographic figures is remarkable. He makes tangible their emotional and cultural struggles. Editor: It's amazing how this rather somber portrait allows us to glimpse a man grappling with his faith, his fate, and maybe his fear too. Quite the thing to experience with a bit of charcoal!