Notities 1905

This page of notations was made by Willem Cornelis Rip, in ink, at an unknown date. It's all about the process here: you can see the workings of his mind laid bare, as he jots down numbers, words, and little doodles, making notes. The surface is alive with the energy of his hand, the pressure and flow of the ink, the quick, decisive marks. It's so physical! It is like each stroke carries not just information, but also emotion. Look at the looping scribbles around the numerical calculation in the centre of the image, they give this section a certain energy. It reminds me of Cy Twombly, actually, in the way that both artists use writing and mark-making not just to communicate but to express pure feeling. Ultimately, I think art is about this kind of conversation, about how we see and feel and think, and how we share that with each other, across time and space, never sure of a final or definitive meaning.