Schetsboek met 52 bladen 1858

This sketchbook with 52 leaves was produced by Gerrit Postma in the Netherlands sometime in the 19th century. It is a testament to the changing role of the artist during this period. As art academies became more established, the sketchbook became a tool both for formal training and for more independent, even radical, artistic experimentation. In the Dutch context, this growth of artistic institutions occurred alongside a period of national self-reflection after the Napoleonic era. The tension between tradition and modernization, and the artist's place within it, was a key concern. To understand this sketchbook fully, one would need to delve into the specifics of Postma’s training and explore his other works. What subjects did he choose to study? What techniques did he employ? How did his art engage with or challenge the social norms of his time? These are some of the questions a historian might explore.