Schetsboek met 35 bladen c. 1894

Curator: Before us, we have “Schetsboek met 35 bladen,” or Sketchbook with 35 Sheets, created by Julie de Graag around 1894. The piece currently resides in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It's incredibly understated, almost monastic in its simplicity. The muted tones and textured surface—is that canvas?—evoke a feeling of quiet contemplation. Curator: Precisely. The sketchbook, while humble in its presentation, provides insight into the artist's process and material concerns. Pencil and colored pencil on paper... consider the tactile intimacy involved in such mediums. Editor: I’m compelled to imagine De Graag selecting each pencil, considering its weight and the grain of the paper. The physicality of artmaking, the labor... were these expensive materials at the time? Did they impact accessibility? Curator: Indeed. Furthermore, the closed book acts as a compositional device—it establishes a boundary, inviting speculation about the artistic secrets contained within. A formalism based on semiotics suggests the cover represents an enclosed, inaccessible world. Editor: A world fashioned by the artist's hand, literally. The binding, the wear, these details reveal not only the creator's touch but the lifespan of the object, the material record of artistic practice. How was such an everyday object valued during the time, and what did it signify? Curator: We could argue that the everyday object gains significance through its association with the creative act. It is not simply a sketchbook but a testament to artistic thought. Editor: Which underscores how humble objects might transcend the quotidian through creative engagement and labor. Curator: Exactly. This close encounter reveals both De Graag's intentions and the nature of materials themselves. Editor: And ultimately reshapes our understanding of artistic worth and context, wouldn’t you agree?