Enquêteformulier ingevuld door Johannes Petrus Schouberg Possibly 1841 - 1849

Curator: This is an intriguing object. Its seemingly straightforward presentation belies a complex network of social and material practices. What draws your eye? Editor: We're looking at an "Enquèteformulier ingevuld door Johannes Petrus Schouberg," a drawing on paper, potentially from between 1841 and 1849. It's a questionnaire of sorts, and I'm struck by the handwriting—so formal, yet intimate. How do we interpret something like this as art? Curator: Let’s consider its materiality. It's a mass-produced form, likely printed using industrial techniques, completed with ink—a handcrafted element interacting with industrial production. This tension is key. What questions does it provoke about labour and the social construction of art? Editor: I see what you mean! The form itself dictates what information is captured. Was this a common method for gathering information at the time? Was filling this form considered to be work or making art, in any sense of that word? Curator: Exactly. Its context is important. It's housed at the Rijksmuseum but blurs lines. Is it archival material, art, or both? Consider who produced it, its intended audience and circulation, to analyze the social and economic contexts surrounding artistic creation. Is it labour, a commissioned service, social record, or something more ambiguous? Editor: I hadn’t considered the interplay between mass production and individual contribution so deeply. The form and the handwritten responses – they’re each crucial to the artwork, reflecting both standardised procedures and subjective individual experience. Curator: Precisely! Examining everyday objects as cultural artifacts illuminates the systems that govern art production and consumption, challenging the very definition of art itself. We must remain critical and continue to push those boundaries! Editor: Thanks, I’m already viewing archival documents and historical research forms in a totally new light!