Skizzenbuch mit Studien zum Amelungenlied 1861 - 1926

This sketchbook with studies for the Amelungenlied was likely made in the late 19th or early 20th century, and it offers a window into the working methods of the artist Maximilian Georg Rossmann. Bound in dark, sturdy board with a leather spine, it represents a quiet, functional object, one made for repeated handling and use. The sketchbook has an important social context, representing the democratization of artmaking. No longer were drawing materials exclusive to the wealthy. Advances in manufacturing made paper more affordable and widely accessible. The sketchbook format invited experimentation, but also an intense work ethic, aligned to the demands of a rapidly industrializing society. As much as the drawings inside, this book speaks to the changing conditions of artistic labor. By valuing the material history of the object, we expand our understanding of art's relationship to everyday life.