Annotaties c. 1886 - 1934

Editor: Here we have "Annotaties," dating from around 1886 to 1934, by Isaac Israels. It's ink on paper, a page torn from a sketchbook, I believe. It strikes me as quite simple—almost mundane. It’s just a page of writing. What should we be looking for here? Curator: I see a fascinating example of the artist’s working methods. Forget the traditional hierarchy that separates sketches from finished work! Israels gives us a glimpse into the labour behind creation. The rapid ink strokes, the listing of what appears to be addresses or inventories – this is about the materiality of artmaking itself. Where did Israels obtain the paper, ink, and pen? What social circles did he exist within when these notes were compiled? Editor: So you're not focusing so much on artistic intent, but on the context and the raw components? Curator: Exactly. The “aged paper” the metadata describes, is it acid-free archival paper meant to preserve his precious artistic outpourings for future generations? Probably not. Instead, it is much more likely that we are seeing the deterioration of common, perhaps even cheap, materials used for functional reasons. We could consider whether the consumption and degradation of art making materials provides some commentary on temporality. Does this subvert the conventional "high art" experience? Editor: I see. By looking at the "Annotaties" through that lens, it turns into more than just casual jottings. It exposes the physical realities that underpin artistic production. Curator: Indeed. Instead of searching for a grand narrative, we see art rooted in everyday existence, reflecting on the materials, labor and economics that support even the most "inspired" artistic act. Editor: That's definitely a new perspective for me. I’ll have to think more about that next time I see a sketch!