Schetsboek XXX met 32 bladen 1875 - 1934

This is sketchbook XXX with 32 sheets by Isaac Israels, held here at the Rijksmuseum. I love this object because you can imagine Israels carrying it around with him, ready to capture a fleeting moment, a quick study. The cover itself has a kind of quiet beauty to it, doesn't it? It has the look of a well-worn canvas, a weave that has absorbed the wear and tear of being lugged around from place to place. I am really drawn to the handwriting on the cover, kind of scrawled and casual. What was he thinking as he wrote? Was he labeling it for himself, or for someone else? How many different ways do you think he filled the pages inside? Perhaps quick sketches of people, maybe just abstract forms to get his eye and hand working together. This little book feels like it holds a whole world of possibilities! It's a reminder that art is as much about the process as it is about the final product, don't you think?