Schetsboek met 39 bladen c. 1856 - 1870

This sketchbook was produced by Maria Vos, a Dutch artist born in 1824. It consists of 39 blank pages, bound together within covers of card and leather. The book itself, conceived as a space for experimentation, is an interesting object in its own right. The cover, with its slightly distressed black leather, suggests a well-used, almost intimate object. Embossed on the cover is the word "ALBUM," indicating its purpose. The materials and making of the book are as important as what is recorded within. The traditional methods used in its construction, from the paper-making to the leather binding, speak to the value placed on craft and the hand-made during this time. The book embodies a history of techniques, tools, and skilled traditions. It serves as a reminder of the labor and the social context of artistic production. Ultimately, it challenges us to see the beauty and significance in the everyday objects that surround us.