Tekstbladen, 1796 Possibly 1796

S.G. Casten created this piece titled "Tekstbladen" in 1796 using ink on paper. At first glance, the open notebook presents us with facing pages filled with elegant, calligraphic script, the controlled precision of the handwriting contrasting with the implied spontaneity of the medium. The meticulous arrangement of text, along with the numbering and titling on the left page, suggests a system, perhaps a manual or inventory, where each element is deliberately positioned. The script and structure of the list serve to categorize and control knowledge. The drawing of soldiers is placed below the neat numbering. Through the structure of the composition, the work highlights not only the visual and textual elements but also the interplay between order and representation. What we see in "Tekstbladen" is an early systemization of knowledge through visual and textual means, questioning how we structure understanding and give meaning to the world around us. This tension between documentation and artistic expression remains relevant to how we engage with art today.