Notities en berekeningen 1854 - 1868

This page of “Notes and Calculations” was composed by Johannes Tavenraat in the Netherlands, date unknown, with graphite on paper. At first glance, we see an accumulation of numbers and annotations, their placement seemingly haphazard. This is not immediately appealing, but look again: the varying sizes and pressures of the graphite create their own rhythmic composition, with the script acting as a visual system of signs and symbols. The page isn't just a utilitarian document, but an unintentional piece of abstract expressionism. The interplay between the ordered calculations and the expressive, almost chaotic, handwriting invites us to think about the nature of information itself. Is it objective data, or is it always filtered through the subjective experience of the writer? Consider how the structure of the page itself—its boundaries, its texture, and its subtle discolorations—adds to the overall effect. This is more than just a record; it's a material artifact, revealing something intimate about Tavenraat and his world.