Schetsboek met 26 bladen 1834 - 1911

This is a sketchbook with 26 pages, created by Jozef Israëls. The sketchbook, a common tool, becomes significant when considering its accessibility. Its presence speaks to a shift in artistic practice and a broader democratization of artmaking in the 19th century. Bound paper and simple construction democratized drawing and painting as both professional practice and hobby. The book's materiality prompts questions about artistic labor. Was it handmade or mass-produced? It reflects the rise of industrial manufacturing and consumer culture. Paper, thread, and cardboard, when combined, create a new space for art. The materiality of a sketchbook invites touch, offering artists a portable tool that accommodates sketching in various locations. Ultimately, understanding the significance of this sketchbook requires us to move beyond art as a rarefied object and to acknowledge the historical context that informed its creation.