Papieren van Jan Brandes van zijn beroeping als predikant bij de lutherse kerk te Batavia e.a. 1777 - 1785

Curator: This document, titled "Papieren van Jan Brandes van zijn beroeping als predikant bij de lutherse kerk te Batavia e.a.," created between 1777 and 1785 by Jan Brandes, appears to be an official paper but has some qualities of a personal journal as well. The ink calligraphy, stylized and thick-fonted, sits on this handmade paper. Editor: The faded type really gives the impression of age. There is an artistic sensibility at play here as much as it is functional as a historical document. It seems to cross many boundaries. What's most interesting to you from a formalist point of view? Curator: I am immediately drawn to the interplay between the aged paper itself and the sharp contrast of the carefully drawn calligraphy. The hand-drawn letters reveal the act of creation. Notice how the design, as you say, contributes just as much to the piece as the pure, unadulterated recordkeeping itself. What sort of effect do you think that brings to this artwork? Editor: Well, that mix kind of makes the viewer ask, "What does it all MEAN?" Is this the transcription of public office, personal testament, spiritual creed, and artistic practice happening all at once? Curator: Precisely. What seems to matter most is the tension and balance among design, age, line, materiality, form, the implicit boundaries between document and art, as the focus rests purely on what you can see as is, divorced from external factors. Editor: That's an insightful point. I initially focused on the possible contexts, but concentrating on what is tangibly visible on the paper illuminates so much about the choices made. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. Now, I will ponder further about the interplay of form and document.