Schetsen van Hokusai - deel 8 c. 1820 - 1878

Katsushika Hokusai created "Sketches of Hokusai - part 8", currently held in the Rijksmuseum. The book’s cover offers a visual experience dominated by a salmon-colored plane, aged and textured. The surface is patterned with subtle wave-like designs, overlaid with a network of fine cracks and wear that speak to its history. These elements create a complex interplay of color, texture, and form. The aged surface prompts us to consider the structuralist approach and the material’s journey through time. It goes beyond its function as a mere cover, becoming a signifier of cultural and historical processes. The imperfections and marks of time destabilize our expectations of perfection, inviting us to question fixed meanings. The cover challenges the notion of art as pristine and untouched. The very materiality engages in a dialogue about the passage of time and the cultural codes embedded within the life of an object. Ultimately, the artwork invites ongoing interpretation, where its formal qualities intertwine with broader cultural and philosophical discourses.