Gezegde over menselijke creaties c. 1646 - 1650

This is a page of the album amicorum of Gesina ter Borch, made with pen and ink in the 17th century. The album amicorum was like a combination of yearbook and scrapbook. Ter Borch's example includes drawings, calligraphy, poems, and even locks of hair. The support is humble: paper, carefully stitched together to make a kind of portable, personal archive. The swirls of penmanship demonstrate the degree to which handwriting was a form of artistry. Notice how the controlled pressure on the nib creates a beautiful modulation in the line. While the contents of the book record the high-minded pursuits of friendship, love, and remembrance, we also see the material realities of paper production and ink manufacture, all relying on forms of labor. Ultimately, the value of this object comes from its intimate qualities. It encourages us to think about the relationship between artistic endeavor and the stuff of everyday life.