Schetsboek met 70 bladen 1881 - 1883

Editor: So, this is George Hendrik Breitner’s sketchbook, dating from 1881 to 1883. It’s made of paper and it looks… unused, almost. It’s just the cover, right? I’m wondering why this seemingly empty sketchbook is here. What do you make of it? Curator: An interesting question! While seemingly blank, think of it not as empty, but pregnant with potential. A sketchbook represents the artist’s mind, doesn’t it? It is a repository of ideas, sketches, and observations before they take definitive form. Think of the alchemical symbol of the “white canvas” in terms of a tabula rasa; this represents not just artistic possibilities, but opportunities to establish new psychological and creative perspectives. Editor: Like a symbol of the creative process itself. But why display just the cover? Curator: Perhaps the curators aim to invite contemplation. What is concealed within? A record of his landscape works. Remember, this era was pivotal for the Impressionists and their desire to record a fleeting, real moment. Consider the paper itself, too – the quality, texture, and colour speak volumes about Breitner's practice. They signal his intentions, almost like a stage setting to prepare him for artistic adventures. Does the ‘blankness’ evoke a specific emotion? Editor: Hmm, I suppose a sense of anticipation. I hadn't thought about it that way. It is a kind of… visual prompt. Curator: Indeed! It invites you to reflect upon artistic decision-making and creative origination, its intentional and unintentional cultural significance across art and life. What do you think now, after some symbolic contemplation? Editor: I see it less as an empty book and more as a conscious invitation, almost a mirror, for my own creative urges, or perhaps anxieties about them! Thanks. Curator: Exactly! It has been a privilege.