Schetsboek XLIII met 61 pagina's 1875 - 1934

This “Sketchbook XLIII with 61 pages,” was made by Isaac Israels, but I don’t know exactly when, probably over a period of time. It is a humble object, but the cover immediately gives us some clues about his process. I love the way the texture and color of the cardboard cover sets the tone – warm, unassuming, and ready to absorb whatever comes its way. You can see the ghost of marks and impressions, little scars, and stains that show it’s been used and carried around. There are numbers scrawled on the cover, perhaps indexing its place in a series, and a signature or some kind of identification. Look closely, and you’ll also see the name and address of the supplier, “A.I. Nuss, Amsterdam,” printed at the bottom, a reminder of the material conditions that make art possible. The idea of the sketchbook, for me, is one of freedom, a space for experiment without the pressure of a ‘finished’ work. I think this is the essence of art, really, that conversation between process and possibility. It's about embracing the journey, not just the destination.