Gedicht 'Hoe schoon licht ons de morgenster' 1814

This poem, ‘Hoe schoon licht ons de morgenster’ was made by George Kockers with pen and ink on paper. The writing is executed with precision and care. Ink, of course, is a fluid medium, allowing for a calligraphic, personal touch; yet, in printed form such as this, it speaks to the development of communication and the growing public sphere. Consider, too, the whiteness of the paper. At this time, it would have been a precious commodity. The poem itself, carefully inscribed, speaks to this value, an investment in the power of words. The artist would have had to exert a huge amount of care and effort to avoid errors, while creating this work. In this light, the stains and imperfections on the page take on a new significance. They remind us of the human element in even the most refined creations, challenging traditional notions of art by exposing the amount of labour that went into producing this piece.