Enquêteformulier ingevuld door Cornelis Cels Possibly 1841

This questionnaire, completed by Cornelis Cels and collected by Johannes Immerzeel, provides insights into the lives and works of Dutch and Flemish artists. Printed on paper, the form's surface is densely covered in handwritten responses in ink, offering a glimpse into the artist's background, training, and professional activities. The questionnaire represents a systematic approach to documenting artistic practices, indicative of the growing professionalization of the art world. The materiality of this document - paper, ink, and handwriting - speaks to the labor involved in collecting and disseminating information about artists, offering a unique perspective on the social and cultural landscape of the art world during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It challenges traditional notions of artistic creation by highlighting the role of documentation, research, and administration in shaping our understanding of art history.