In Hoc Signo – 2026-05-29

5 Years to Complete

This oil painting ‘In Hoc Signo – 2026-06-01’ took me 5 years to complete. It’s my contribution the environmental debate and Greta Thunberg was my witness. “Was” I said, for she seems busy with other activities these days. Actually, I painted this one over a period of 5 years but that’s not the whole story. Let me explain why. Initially, I was heavily motivated to start it back in 2021. Triggered by the sale of the reference drawing I had only to execute it in oil. So I thought, because after a couple of months I hit a brick wall. The mirror, the banner and Greta on it and other things I had in mind were quickly captured. What to do with the left part though? It represents the back of the model sitting on her knees in front of the mirror.

The Rest Is History

Then I decided to have the painting rest for a moment. Let it settle down and reflect on it. Surely ideas for this vast empty space would come to mind. They didn’t come so I set it aside, only to do some elaborations in 2023. Then came 2025 and I almost forgot about it, standing backwards against the wall. Almost feel guilty when I happened to turn it around. To be honest, there is a true boulevard of broken dreams in my hallway. What’s the remedy? Just pick up one and pick up the pieces. Meditate in front of the painting at the end of the day. See if the painting could tell me what to do and so it did all at once. A breakthrough really. I saw a desert filled with secrets. The rest is history.

Oil on wood panel (120 x 85 x 0.9 cm)

Artist: Corné Akkers

Sales info: info@corneakkers.com

Video: