Als schetsboek gebruikte agenda met 108 bladen 1893

Editor: This unassuming sketchbook-agenda, dating back to 1893 by George Hendrik Breitner, appears quite worn and small. It's comprised of drawing and mixed-media on paper. It’s intriguing, but initially looks rather mundane. What's your take? Curator: It appears mundane precisely because it IS an everyday object, transformed by Breitner's artistic intervention. Breitner, remember, was deeply engaged with depicting modern urban life. How do you think the form of the sketchbook-agenda itself—something so intrinsically linked to daily routines and recording the passage of time—relates to his broader artistic project? Editor: I guess I hadn’t thought about it that way. So, instead of viewing it simply as a collection of sketches, we should consider how the 'agenda' part of it reflects Breitner's interaction with his contemporary world? A personal and portable repository for observations. Curator: Precisely! This little book provides insight into how he structured his time, captured fleeting impressions, and engaged with the streets of Amsterdam. Can you imagine him pulling this out on a busy street corner? What kind of statements was Breitner trying to convey by carrying it around in his everyday life, making quick marks and notes inside of it, rather than making one big drawing on a giant canvas? Editor: Right! It's like a visual diary, a direct, unfiltered connection to his experiences. To consider its public and private life gives me so much to consider. Thank you! Curator: It is my pleasure. Seeing the artmaking practices that permeate the most banal activities truly offers insight into its relationship to us as public audiences.