Skizzenbuch 1878 - 1883

Editor: So, we're looking at "Skizzenbuch," a sketchbook by Friedrich Metz, created between 1878 and 1883. It seems simple, almost humble – just the cover, really – with that marbled pattern and label. I'm curious about the variety of media listed: pencil, chalk, graphite, charcoal, and pastel. What stands out to you about this object? Curator: The first thing that grabs my attention is its physicality. This isn't just a representation, it's a made object. Consider the production: the binding, the paper's texture, the application of that marbled pattern, probably some kind of decorative paper, mass produced for books like this. What kind of labor went into the manufacturing? It’s mundane, yet crucial. Editor: So you're thinking about it as a product of industry as much as a vehicle for art? Curator: Exactly! Look at that label too. Probably adhered at the time of purchase or sometime afterwards. What kind of purpose would that serve? What could be written there? We’re looking at a container that’s intimately connected to artistic process and perhaps consumption of goods for artists. Where did Metz acquire this? What was his social class? This informs his artistic possibilities. Editor: That's fascinating. I was so focused on the *potential* art inside, I didn’t think about the object *itself* as a cultural artifact. I hadn't considered the class implications or where the raw materials came from. Curator: Precisely. The "high art" inside depends upon the everyday reality of material production. Seeing it that way, shifts our perspective on Metz and art in general, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely. I'll never look at a sketchbook the same way again!