Reisverslag c. 1880 - 1887

Louis Apol created this travel journal with paper, ink, and leather. The visible materiality of the book immediately gives a sense of both the intimacy and the scope of Apol’s travels. The physical qualities of the paper, with its slight imperfections and the way it absorbs ink, create a direct connection to the artist's hand, while the worn leather binding suggests the book has been held and consulted many times. We can imagine Apol carefully writing in this book, making observations and reflecting on his experiences. The very act of writing, the manual labor involved in forming each letter with a pen, imbues the journal with social and cultural significance, a direct link to the artist's personal journey and the world he inhabited. The tools are modest, yet they speak volumes about the practice of journaling during this time, before digital means of documentation became commonplace. This journal, therefore, is an object of great importance, challenging the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, between personal experience and historical document.