Lijst met bomen, bloemen, dieren en vruchten 1906 - 1945

Curator: This page from Reijer Stolk's sketchbook, titled "List of Trees, Flowers, Animals, and Fruits," appears to be composed sometime between 1906 and 1945, utilizing a combination of ink, pen, and mixed media on paper. Editor: My first impression is that it’s delightfully chaotic and intensely personal. The hand-written text creates such an intimate atmosphere, like stumbling upon someone’s private thoughts. Curator: Indeed. Look at the composition – it’s an arrangement of carefully hand-lettered words, each acting as a signifier of something within the artist's world, presented in a linear format but marked seemingly at random. The "X" markings on the side almost resemble a binary code. Editor: The use of script lends a human element, a direct connection to Stolk. The very act of writing these words by hand, in contrast to printed text, suggests a level of care and perhaps a different intent, especially considering it's likely a page from his personal sketchbook. Curator: I find the very concept of this piece significant within the history of art: Stolk is taking objects of study, natural elements that we have historically portrayed realistically in paintings, and turns them into something that explores the power of words and sketches in visual form. He’s essentially creating a proto-conceptual work, isn’t he? Editor: Absolutely, there is a political element to sketchbooks themselves; historically marginalized artists, or those without studios would keep them and build a large collection to build a painting on later, acting as a document of seeing for an artist that does not have institutional backing. And as you note, each mark or sketch is part of a language particular to Reijer Stolk, perhaps only ever fully legible to him. Curator: Ultimately, this humble sketchbook page compels us to think about the nature of representation and the role of personal notations in shaping artistic expression. Editor: It leaves me contemplating the countless untold stories contained within artists' private collections. I keep wanting to turn the page!