Schetsboek met 19 bladen 1880 - 1882

Editor: This is a sketchbook from 1880-1882 by George Hendrik Breitner, held at the Rijksmuseum. It’s crafted using drawing and mixed media on paper. The cover has a marbled effect and feels aged, like a well-worn object of labour. What stands out to me is the book itself, the binding, and the wear and tear – a testament to its use. What do you make of it? Curator: Seeing this sketchbook, I immediately think of the physical process of art making in Breitner’s time. It’s mixed media on paper, yes, but think of the sourcing, the production of that paper, the crafting of the sketchbook itself. Were these readily available or luxurious commodities? And what about Breitner's relationship with the sketchbook? Was it a constant companion? Editor: So you see this object less as a container for art, and more as a product of its time? Curator: Exactly. We tend to focus on the drawings inside, the final artistic expression. But I want to push us to consider the material conditions that made those drawings possible. Look closely—what can you infer about its function, the context of its creation based purely on the material elements? Editor: That’s interesting. I guess the size indicates portability, suggesting it was meant for use outside the studio. And the wear suggests it was heavily used. Curator: Precisely! Think about Breitner, walking the streets, capturing fleeting moments in this very book. The book itself becomes an active participant in the artistic process, not just a passive surface. It bears witness, literally absorbing the dust and grime of the city. Editor: It reframes the artistic process as one embedded in material reality, that art relies on production and use. Thank you for providing this perspective! Curator: Indeed! Examining these aspects grants an appreciation for not just the artist’s hand, but also the hands that helped realize the art.