Schetsboek met 73 bladen 1839 - 1872

This is a sketchbook, made by Johannes Tavenraat sometime before his death in 1881. Bound in green, its cover now has a mottled, aged appearance, bearing witness to the passage of time and the touch of hands. Sketchbooks are interesting objects. They invite us to consider the creative process, not just the finished result. The texture of the paper, the weight of the book in the hand, the way the pages turn - all these contribute to the artist's experience. Tavenraat would have selected this book, appreciating its qualities as a receptive surface for his ideas. Consider the bookbinding itself - the labor and skill involved in stitching the pages together, attaching the cover, and creating a durable object that could withstand travel and use. These acts of making, often unseen, are integral to the sketchbook's existence. They remind us that even the simplest of objects have a rich history of production and use, a social life that extends beyond the artist's studio.