Schetsboek met 65 bladen 1862 - 1864

Curator: Our attention is drawn to a "Schetsboek met 65 bladen," or sketchbook with 65 pages, crafted by Johannes Tavenraat between 1862 and 1864. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Well, immediately I notice the textural contrast – the smoothness of the blue spine juxtaposed against the marbled, almost organic pattern of the cover. It has a certain distressed elegance, wouldn’t you say? Curator: The material construction certainly speaks to a specific period in bookbinding. The use of mixed media – watercolors and paper, predominantly – also indicates the spontaneous nature of sketches and studies made outdoors. Editor: Do you think the marbling signifies anything? The dark splotches over the pale ground remind me a bit of Rorschach blots… it’s almost chaotic, as if trying to reflect the tumultuous natural world. Curator: Perhaps it served as a metaphor. However, book covers like this were also made mechanically. What’s interesting here is the artist's agency. Tavenraat chose, procured, and then used it in particular ways. What can this book tell us about artistic process? Editor: Right, and its physicality, the heft of it, the turning of pages; all would shape his encounter with the world and how it was then captured within. Curator: Exactly. This isn't merely a collection of images but also a historical object deeply intertwined with the very act of artistic creation in its time. Think about what stories this object might hold; secrets to unlock artistic innovation. Editor: So true! Thanks to our analysis, I can better grasp the essence of artistic practice back then. It truly allows for an exploration of how one's environment, tools and mediums can determine the artwork!