Schetsboek met 20 bladen 1865

This is a sketchbook with twenty pages by Johan R. Kruyff, an artist born in the mid-19th century. Bound by a ribbon, the sketchbook is a portal into Kruyff's artistic process during a period of significant social and artistic change. Consider the position of artists in the 19th century, as the rise of industrialization and urbanization sparked new forms of cultural expression. Sketchbooks like this one were private spaces, where artists could experiment with ideas, record observations, and develop their craft. They often served as a repository for thoughts and feelings, revealing the personal dimensions of artistic creation. What might Kruyff have been exploring within these pages? Do the sketches reflect the social realities of his time, or do they offer an escape into a world of imagination and beauty? What does it mean to open such a personal, intimate object to public viewing? This sketchbook is both a historical artifact and an intimate glimpse into the mind of an artist shaped by his time.