Notater 1913 - 1914

This notebook page was made by J.A. Jerichau, at an unknown date, and it shows his commitment to art as a daily process. The ink is applied in such a way that the writing almost becomes drawing. The notes are more like sketches, a kind of visual thinking. Looking closely, you can see where the ink bleeds slightly into the paper, creating a soft halo around each word, it's a glimpse into his thought process, a record of his mind at work. The density of the script varies, like a landscape with peaks and valleys. Some words are bold and assertive, while others fade into the background, almost disappearing. There is something very intimate about the writing. The stains and smudges mark the surface, proof of its use. Jerichau's notebook reminds me a little of Cy Twombly's scrawling paintings. Both artists share a love of mark-making as a way of thinking and feeling, an embrace of the messy, imperfect, and human quality of art.