Christelijke overtuigingen in poëtische vorm c. 1660

Curator: This is an intriguing page from Henrik Jordis's sketchbook, created around 1660, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It's titled "Christelijke overtuigingen in poëtische vorm," which translates to "Christian convictions in poetic form." It features pen work in ink on paper. Editor: It strikes me as deeply personal and almost secretive. The densely packed calligraphy gives it an intensely private, introspective atmosphere. Curator: Jordis has filled the page with devotional poems and reflections, quite literally forming his beliefs through elegant script. The style is particularly fascinating. The refined penmanship suggests a studied approach. Editor: Yes, the precision of the script, even crammed as it is, evokes a sense of fervent devotion bordering on compulsion. Do you get a sense that this practice acted as its own form of meditation? Curator: Absolutely. The very act of writing these beliefs becomes a devotional practice. And notice how Jordis structures the poems; there is a sense of building or ascending to religious insights. Editor: And look, there are these beautifully flourished capital letters. See how the ink varies in tone, suggesting a shifting pressure, as if each phrase gains new intensity of meaning as he writes it out? Curator: Exactly! It almost feels like a spiritual exercise etched directly onto the page. Considering its modest presentation and intimate medium, its emotional weight is amplified all the more! Editor: Indeed, it’s fascinating how something so humble—ink on paper—can communicate such a grand sense of spiritual seeking.