Toelichting op een tekening in het schetsboek 1816 - 1852

This is a sketch of an annotation in a sketchbook by Elisabeth Kemper, made sometime in the 19th century. While the details are vague, we see a recurring theme in Western art: the written word itself. Like the Egyptians, we've long believed that words possess a unique power. Writing, initially sacred, became a medium for preserving and transmitting knowledge. Even in modern times, the act of writing retains its significance. Think of the artist Marcel Duchamp, who incorporated text into his artworks. Or even further back to Medieval illuminated manuscripts. These examples show how written language moves through time, shifting from sacred text to the everyday. Consider the psychological weight of these markings: each word, a deliberate act of creation. It is a testament to our enduring need to communicate and immortalize ourselves. This piece is a poignant reminder of our connection to the past and our hope for the future, capturing a sliver of one moment in time.