De Korintji expeditie, mei - september 1903. Brieven van den 1en Lt. adjudant F. Fischer aan de Sumatra Bode te Padang. 1903

Editor: This work, titled "De Korintji Expeditie, mei - september 1903," appears to be a historical document of some sort, maybe even a sketchbook. It’s ink on paper and by F. Fischer in 1903. It's quite understated. What draws your eye when you look at this? Curator: Understated, yes, but whisperingly powerful! The aged paper tells a story of time itself. It feels deeply personal to me, a portal into the past. Imagine, Fischer sitting down, quill in hand, documenting this Korintji Expedition. Don’t you wonder what details he deemed important enough to share in his letters? Editor: Definitely! The handwriting, too, it feels so intimate. Is this what you mean when you describe Academic Art, how much skill it requires? Curator: Precisely. There's a disciplined artistry in effectively conveying information, thoughts, and emotions. Do you notice the almost austere layout, how economical the writing is? Editor: Yes, the composition has two halves— the blank and the written side, but there also something unbalanced. One half looks fragile; the other solid. Curator: I'm so glad you see that. It's as if the raw, untamed adventure on the left contrasts with the neat, recorded version of it on the right. What if that tension reflects the inner experience of someone trying to make sense of the world around them, far from home? Editor: I didn't think of it that way, but now it adds another dimension! The two halves, I mean. I’ll always think of personal narratives in these old pieces. Curator: Exactly. So next time, dare to consider the unwritten narratives within, to see beyond what’s immediately present, and reflect on the subjective truths. I know I will.