Sketchbook: Animal Studies 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we have John Singer Sargent's "Sketchbook: Animal Studies." The cover has the word "Schetsboek" printed on it. The materials look like paper and cloth, and it has a beautifully aged texture. What strikes you about its composition? Curator: The sketchbook's cover presents a study in contrasts. Note the rough texture of the paper against the smoother binding, and the geometry of the printed title. Editor: So the contrast between the rough and the smooth is important? Curator: Indeed. Also, consider the horizontal orientation and the vertical lines of the red binding. These elements contribute to a sense of contained energy. Editor: I see what you mean. There's a structural integrity here. Thanks for highlighting the formal qualities. Curator: It is in these details that the very essence of the object resides.