Berekeningen en huishoudelijke lijsten 1854 - 1868

Editor: Here we have Johannes Tavenraat’s “Calculations and Household Lists,” made between 1854 and 1868, using pencil on paper. It strikes me as a very intimate look into the artist's life, almost like reading a personal diary. What catches your eye in this piece? Curator: Formally, the composition immediately draws my attention. The page is filled edge to edge with text and numbers, but it avoids feeling chaotic because of the subtle organization Tavenraat employs. Note how he groups calculations, and then lists, employing varied letterforms to create a visual hierarchy. The aging and discoloration of the paper add to its textural complexity. Do you see how the fading ink contributes to a layered effect, emphasizing certain passages over others? Editor: Yes, I see what you mean. It’s like he's almost creating abstract shapes within the constraints of the written word. Is that intentional, do you think? Curator: That is the inherent beauty of the formalism of the artwork; intent is superseded by the raw aesthetics of the piece, where the fading and variations in pressure on the paper come to the fore. The balance achieved is remarkable, an exploration of line and form independent of the work’s practical function as notes. Editor: It's interesting to think of something so utilitarian having these unintended artistic qualities. I’ll definitely look at sketchbooks differently now. Curator: Indeed, looking past the context provides for more nuanced understandings of the artistry within these everyday artworks.