Dagboek I, Hendrik Doijer (1863-1925) Possibly 1903 - 1912

Curator: "Dagboek I," or "Diary I," a drawing by Hendrik Doijer, likely created between 1903 and 1912, rendered on paper with coloured pencil. Its most immediately striking element, beyond Doijer's signature, is that melancholic cover. Editor: There’s a certain intimacy to it, wouldn’t you say? It's like stumbling upon someone’s well-loved, personal keepsake. That blue evokes such stillness, like a winter evening reflected in glass. The way the colour pencils lie so subtly on the paper suggests it's a treasured object rather than a finished drawing in itself. Curator: It's a fascinating example of the art object’s lifespan. We see this notebook not just as a container for ideas or sketches but as a finished artwork. The materials themselves tell a story: paper stock available at the time, the pigments in the coloured pencils…it's a tangible link to Doijer's process. It makes me consider how his art-making fit within the Dutch art scene of the time. Was this for private exploration, or did it serve another purpose? Editor: A window to a private world, certainly. The slight imperfections around the edges and spine give it character and feel like an invitation, an encouragement to ponder the hands that held this object. I’d love to hold it. Curator: And I would want to examine the specific papers and colour pencils available, the techniques evident, and how this notebook’s materiality speaks to art making then versus the expectations around display of artwork at the time. We need to think more of artistic intention as it's recorded and also consider how external limitations impact the making. Editor: I get it. Process meets intention and gets mediated by access. In the end, Doijer's intimate piece, rough tape, and all is haunting and very telling in the limitations. Curator: Yes, it leaves us contemplating so much more beyond Doijer’s life—about what he wanted to achieve. It gives me more than a sense of stillness, and more than the winter you see—I see possibility. Editor: Beautifully put, just like Doijer’s work.