Vogel en een eend 1844

This page of sketches and observations was created by Johannes Tavenraat sometime in the 19th century. It’s ink on paper – humble materials, direct from the natural world, and from the world of the scriptorium. Look closely, and you can see the way that Tavenraat has used a broad nib to capture the texture of bark and foliage. The thinness of the ink allows for a quick, immediate transcription of the landscape. He alternates between image and script, recording his impressions in both. The combination gives the impression of a mind at work, actively processing visual data in relation to language. These aren’t finished artworks, but rather the raw material for them – the labor of seeing made visible. In its own way, that can be just as compelling. Tavenraat reminds us that art is not just about the final product, but the process of engagement.