Schetsboek met 25 bladen c. 1846 - 1851

This is a sketchbook with 25 pages, made by Willem Roelofs. Bound in a dark, almost black material, likely paper or cloth over boards, the sketchbook's dimensions speak to its portability, its readiness to capture fleeting moments. Its materiality is humble, functional; the cover, worn with age and use, bears witness to its purpose as a working tool rather than an object of display. The making of a sketchbook is, in itself, a craft. The binding, the selection of paper, all contribute to its character and utility. But it is the act of filling the pages with sketches, with ideas, that imbues it with its true significance. The sketchbook represents the work and labor of the artist: a physical manifestation of their creative process, a repository of thoughts, observations, and experiments. It serves as a reminder that art-making is often a process of accumulation, of gradual refinement, and that the materials and tools we use are integral to shaping our vision.