Schetsboek met 44 bladen vervaardigd in Zeeland en Utrecht c. 1856 - 1861

This sketchbook with 44 pages was made by Cornelis Springer, dating to his travels in Zeeland and Utrecht. Bound in what appears to be dark cloth and decorated with gold lettering, it holds within it a record of Springer’s artistic process. The very nature of a sketchbook speaks to the artist's intention, capturing fleeting moments and ideas in a portable format. Paper, the primary material, is crucial; its texture and absorbency influence the application of graphite, charcoal, or ink, each mark revealing the artist's hand and the pressure exerted. Consider the weight of the book itself, a physical embodiment of time spent observing and recording. Springer's choice of a sketchbook format reflects a shift in artistic practice, a move towards capturing the everyday and the ephemeral. The sketchbook becomes a repository of visual information, a tool for understanding the world through close observation and skillful rendering. By valuing the artist's process, we recognize the significance of the sketchbook, not just as a repository of images, but as a testament to the power of drawing.