Schetsboek met 44 bladen 1843 - 1857

This is a sketchbook with 44 pages, made by Johannes Tavenraat in the 19th century. Its materials, paper, board, and thread, are the silent witnesses to the artist's creative process. The sketchbook’s worn cover speaks volumes. Consider the transformation of raw materials into paper, the pulping, pressing, and drying, all labor-intensive processes. Then, the binding with thread, a craft in itself. The texture, the weight, the very feel of the paper would have influenced Tavenraat's hand as he sketched. Was this paper readily available or a luxury? How did its cost affect Tavenraat’s art? The sketchbook, therefore, is more than just a repository of images. It embodies the labor of unseen hands and the social context of its creation. By considering these aspects, we gain a deeper understanding of Tavenraat’s work.