Notitie c. 1825 - 1829

Curator: "Notitie," a sheet of paper adorned with ink, beckons our attention here at the Rijksmuseum. Created by Andreas Schelfhout circa 1825-1829, it showcases romantic calligraphic skill. It's basically a page of sketchbook writings... How does it strike you? Editor: It whispers. You know, like a secret pact etched on parchment. Its age shows—the stains are like tea leaves, and you just *know* someone powerful probably spilled wine on it during a debate. But all of the writing--beautiful. Curator: Well, consider that paper was, back then, a valuable commodity. We're seeing a visual record of thought in action, almost an accidental piece speaking to Schelfhout's labor. This wasn't just tossing off ideas; he had to carefully weigh his materials and make his mark count, materially speaking. Editor: Right, so it wasn't a doodle pad. Every stroke, the weight of the ink, speaks volumes. Still, there’s something quite delicate here, a tentative quality almost. This artist seems to be letting his subconscious run wild-- look! We have landscapes lurking faintly beneath all the text. Curator: Landscapes? Yes, but these notations may reflect his wider practice in his studio – and let's remember the socio-economic context. Romanticism romanticized *labor*, but let's not forget who controlled the resources to create art. Editor: That's true--I see him testing out his pen, his words. The way the lettering curls...I get this sense of deep, passionate solitude, like a composer jotting down melodies late at night. This artist isn't simply conveying information. It seems more personal and intuitive than I first realized. A conversation with the self... Curator: Indeed. By considering its creation within its time and understanding its elements as by-products of production – ink, paper, calligraphy –we can grasp how even personal jottings are inextricably linked to material forces. Editor: Yes. Schelfhout is not just making art *with* materials but revealing how meaning and creation stem directly from our connection with materials as humans. A good piece. Curator: An artifact, quite literally! Something of substance and thought.