Schetsboek met 8 bladen before 1817

This is a sketchbook with 8 pages, crafted by Balthasar Paul Ommeganck. Although undated, its materials and style suggest a creation within Ommeganck's active period. At first glance, it may seem simple, yet it speaks volumes about artistic practice. Paper, the primary material, was becoming increasingly accessible during this time, which democratized art-making. The sketchbook embodies the artist's process, the direct interaction between hand, tool, and surface. This invites us to consider the labor, the marks and the artist's thought process. Ommeganck likely employed traditional bookbinding techniques, folding and stitching the sheets together. This grounding in craft offers a tactile dimension, contrasting the often rarefied status of fine art. The sketchbook is a receptacle of ideas, a testament to the importance of process and the tangible connection between artist, material, and the world around them.