Album amicorum ter gelegenheid van de veertigjarige ambtsvervulling van de heer G. Schleper 1923

This is J.J. Reynders’ “Album amicorum ter gelegenheid van de veertigjarige ambtsvervulling van de heer G. Schleper,” made with who-knows-what materials, but definitely incorporating texture as a key element. The cover has this wild, almost marbled effect, where pinkish-red seems to have been dragged across a lighter background, creating these elongated shapes. It's not just about color; it's about a process, a movement. This reminds me of how paint can have its own voice, directing your hand, not the other way around! Check out the way the light catches those ridges and valleys. I mean, you can almost feel the physicality of the thing. And then there’s the spine, a solid, earthy tone that anchors the whole piece. That corner detail – a little metallic reinforcement – it’s not just functional, it’s kind of elegant. Artists like Kurt Schwitters used materials like this as an ongoing conversation about value, and art. Ultimately, you have to embrace the fact that there's no single way to see it.