The Building of the 'Argo'

The work has been cited as an early example of symbolic narrative in Dutch modernism, influencing later maritime allegories in the Netherlands. Its inclusion in the Rijksmuseum's collection has kept it visible in public discourse, where scholars reference its compositional daring as a precursor to expressionist treatment of sea motifs. The painting is regularly reproduced in exhibition catalogues that trace the evolution of national identity imagery in the early twentieth century.

Painted in 1906 by the Dutch artist Antoon Derkinderen, The Building of the 'Argo' is a tempera painting that belongs to the Art Nouveau movement. Derkinderen worked across several disciplines, including painting, stained glass, drawing, and book design. The painting is now part of the collection at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

The scene illustrates the construction of the mythological vessel Argo on a shoreline. In the foreground, a seated figure plays music at the ship's prow, while an elderly bearded man rests on a nearby rock, gazing toward the water. Behind them, multiple laborers collaborate on the building of the boat.

Onlookers gather on a balcony in the distance, observing the work. Mountains, water, and an overcast sky frame the activity, suggesting themes of collective effort and creative enterprise.