Schetsboek met 24 bladen 1890 - 1946

This is Cornelis Vreedenburgh's sketchbook, filled with 24 blank pages, now held at the Rijksmuseum. Though it is blank, the book speaks volumes. Vreedenburgh, living through both World Wars, was undoubtedly shaped by the tumultuous political and social landscapes of his time. Consider this simple object as a site of possibility, as well as a void. What could this Dutch artist, who lived through such political turmoil, not bring himself to capture? The absence of imagery invites us to consider what was intentionally left unsaid. It could signify artistic block but might it also represent a silent protest, a refusal to visually participate in a world marred by conflict? This sketchbook encourages us to imagine the myriad untold stories, the suppressed voices, and the unrecorded histories that often lie beneath the surface of art. As such, the emotional resonance of this sketchbook lies in its emptiness, a stark reminder of the unspoken narratives that shape our understanding of history and identity.