Reisdocument 1945

This reisdocument – a travel document – was made in 1945 by an anonymous creator. I'm thinking about the materiality of this piece, the paper itself, so thin, inscribed with careful penmanship and stamped in what looks like purple ink. It makes me wonder about the hand that held the pen. A sense of urgency, maybe, to record the details: dates, times, destinations all meticulously noted. The precision and attention to detail stand in stark contrast to the chaotic backdrop of a world in turmoil. I imagine the weight of this small piece of paper. The weight of survival, of hope, of uncertainty about what lies ahead. I think about all of the people who have made marks in ink, from centuries ago to the present day. Like artists, bureaucrats leave traces of themselves. Maybe these are not so different after all.