Schetsboek LXIII met 23 bladen c. 1886 - 1934

This is Isaac Israels' sketchbook LXIII, made with 23 sheets of paper, its exact date is unknown. The cover has the quality of an aged snapshot, all sepia tones and muted purples. It’s a testament to the beauty of simple materials. The cover is marked and stained, with a thin spine in faded purple, giving the piece a sense of history. You can almost smell the old glue and paper. There’s a rough, handwritten label, adding a personal, intimate touch, like a note left in a used book. It reminds me of Kurt Schwitters' collages, where everyday materials find new life and meaning. It suggests that art can be found in the mundane, and that even a simple sketchbook can be a work of art in itself. It’s a reminder that art isn’t just about the finished product, but about the process and the journey. What’s inside is almost secondary. It could be blank, it almost doesn’t matter.