Annotaties 1914

Editor: This is Willem Witsen's "Annotaties" from 1914, made with ink on paper and held at the Rijksmuseum. It's a fascinating little sketchbook page. The aging of the paper, combined with the handwritten script, evokes a sense of intimacy. How would you interpret the material aspects of this work? Curator: From a materialist perspective, I'm interested in the sketchbook itself as a site of production. Consider the type of paper used. Was it readily available or a more specialized material? How would the availability and cost of these materials at the time impact Witsen’s process, and the kind of notations he chose to make? It’s not simply a matter of aesthetics, but a record of labor, resources and social circumstance, isn't it? Editor: That's a good point. It makes you consider the book as almost a kind of "raw material" rather than solely a vehicle for artistic expression. It’s interesting to think about the labour involved too. Curator: Exactly! And how the inherent qualities of the ink impacted Witsen's script; did it bleed, feather or dry quickly? Consider the social status tied to literacy at the time, reflected in the meticulous handwriting versus perhaps quick, rougher note-taking of a manual laborer. It speaks to a certain level of education and privilege, shaping the context in which we receive it. Editor: So it's not just about *what* he wrote, but *how* and *with what*, really digging into the act of creation itself as a reflection of broader societal factors. Curator: Precisely. We challenge that conventional notion of separating "high art" from mundane activities, showing how production intertwines everything, influencing both its form and interpretation. This allows for considering socio-historical connections evident even on the simplest of surfaces like a sketchbook page. Editor: I see now how exploring the materials expands understanding the piece beyond just the symbolic. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Examining the material conditions of art production brings the world closer to us, demystifying notions surrounding artistic creation.