Blad 15 uit Stamboek van de leerlingen der Koloniale School voor Meisjes en Vrouwen te 's-Gravenhage deel II (1930-1949) Possibly 1930 - 1939

This page from a ledger, made in the Hague between 1930 and 1949, using ink on paper, feels so personal. The whole thing has this pale, dry tone that makes me think of old books and documents, so you know it’s seen some time. The handwriting is kind of wild, all looping and slanted – you can tell someone took real care in forming the letters. It’s neat but each person has their own distinct rhythm. Then there are these little photos pasted in; the faces are so serious, staring right out at you, and you can see the printing is basic. There’s one name here, “Houtland Catharina”, and underneath a mention of ‘Monnickendam’. I like how that sounds. The ink almost bleeds into the page; it makes you wonder about the story behind each name, each photo. It’s like a painting where the layers of time and process are all visible, open for interpretation. Like Agnes Martin meets Cy Twombly. It's a record, but it's also a mystery.