Schetsboek met 58 bladen c. 1828 - 1897

This sketchbook with 58 leaves was made by Adrianus Eversen, sometime in the 19th century. Notice the seemingly random pattern of dark blots against a green background. This marbled effect, while decorative, also carries deeper resonances. Think of the swirling chaos of the cosmos, where chance and order dance together. Patterns like these have adorned manuscripts and books for centuries, hinting at the hidden layers of knowledge and the unpredictable nature of discovery. You can see something similar in the dark, inky depths depicted by Bosch, in whose vision all certainties seem to dissolve, and the world is a theatre of demonic chaos and sin. The use of marbling speaks to an alchemical process, turning base materials into something precious. In this way, the book itself becomes a symbol of transformation – a vessel waiting to be filled with ideas, sketches, and visions. The cyclical nature of knowledge and the perpetual return of primal forms is something to keep in mind when considering the cultural memories books preserve.