Lot 311-096-PF008-S3: Geborgenheid (Shelter / Inner Protection) – Ferdinand Vercnocke, Belgian School, signed 1959. Oil on canvas.
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Geborgenheid (Shelter / Inner Protection) – Ferdinand
Vercnocke, Belgian School, signed 1959. Oil on canvas.
Belgian painter Ferdinand Vercnocke is known for his symbolic,
surrealist-influenced figurative compositions in which
psychological depth, metaphysical symbolism, and refined technical
execution converge. His work belongs to the tradition of European
post-surrealist symbolic realism, combining narrative clarity with
inner, spiritual meaning.
Geborgenheid presents a monumental symbolic composition centered on a maternal figure holding a child, constructed as an archetypal image of protection, safety, and inner shelter. The central female figure is rendered frontally with calm stillness and psychological presence, functioning not as a portrait but as a symbolic embodiment of care and containment. The child, held close to the mother’s face, reinforces themes of vulnerability, trust, and emotional dependence.
The surrounding environment introduces layered symbolic elements: a Buddha-like sculptural presence, ritualistic architectural forms, and structured golden objects, creating a metaphysical spatial framework that suggests spiritual guardianship and transcendental protection. These elements operate as symbolic architecture rather than narrative background, transforming the scene into an inner landscape of psychological and spiritual meaning.
In the foreground, the inclusion of a porcelain jug and cup introduces a domestic still-life element, grounding the metaphysical symbolism in everyday human ritual and intimacy. This contrast between the sacred and the domestic is characteristic of Vercnocke’s visual language, where inner life, spirituality, and human experience coexist within a single symbolic structure.
The work exemplifies Vercnocke’s distinctive artistic approach: a controlled, serene surface concealing a complex symbolic system, merging figurative surrealism, allegorical realism, and metaphysical symbolism. Geborgenheid stands as a contemplative meditation on inner safety, spiritual protection, and psychological containment, expressed through a refined symbolic composition of timeless character. Dimensions Frame: Height 92 Width 82 cm. Visual: Height 79 Width 69 cm.
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