Schetsboek met 19 bladen 1883 - 1922

This is a sketchbook made by Johanna van de Kamer, but it could have been made any time, because sketchbooks exist in a space outside of time. Look at the lovely worn cover, there is so much evidence of the artist’s hand, or perhaps of being carried around and generally knocked about a bit, which is what sketchbooks are for. The title is printed on the cover in a stern, old-fashioned font, like a label. The pages inside must contain drawings, or ideas for drawings, or writing, or just doodles and scribbles. I like the idea of a sketchbook as a conversation with oneself, a way of thinking through making. In a way, a sketchbook is a lot like a painting, it’s about process, a place to explore ideas without worrying about the end result. I can almost smell the paper and ink through the image. Like a work by Cy Twombly, this sketchbook is an intimate look at the thought process of the artist. It reminds me that art is about making, not just about finished products.