Blad 137 uit Stamboek van de leerlingen der Koloniale School voor Meisjes en Vrouwen te 's-Gravenhage deel II (1930-1949) Possibly 1946 - 1947

This is page 137 from a register made at The Colonial School for Girls and Women in The Hague, probably in the 1940s. I love how different types of marks come together on the page. The formal grid of the register, the various handwriting samples, the typed entries, the ink stamps – they all have their own rhythm and weight. Look at the bottom signature on the second line, “alhorning”. The writing is precise and even, as if each letter was carefully considered. The letterforms are so specific, so particular to that person. It feels like such an intimate gesture. In the top right corner, there’s a photograph of a woman. What’s striking is how the black and white photo interacts with the handwritten text. The woman’s face is so clear and distinct, surrounded by the creamy faded page. The image feels both present and distant, like a memory. I'm thinking of Félix Fénéon here, who collected and championed other people's work. He understood that art is an ongoing conversation.