Schetsboek met 67 bladen 1866 - 1868

This sketchbook with 67 pages was made by Isaac Gosschalk, a Dutch artist who lived in the 19th century. It is modest in size, its cover a muted greyish-brown, the spine faded to a deep burgundy. Sketchbooks like this are profoundly intimate objects, offering a direct connection to an artist's process. They're not about grand statements but about the daily grind of seeing and recording. The visible wear and tear on this book speaks volumes about its use. It has absorbed the oils from Gosschalk’s hands, and the fibers of the paper cover have softened and aged over time. The hand-sewn binding has stood the test of time. Consider how the mass production of paper made sketchbooks like this one relatively accessible, allowing artists to capture their fleeting ideas and observations. The sketchbook becomes a portable workshop, a place for experimentation, and a testament to the artist's dedication to their craft. It is a reminder that art-making is often a process of accumulation, a collection of small moments that build into something larger.