Notities 1863 - 1866

This undated work, *Notities*, by Johannes Tavenraat is composed of handwriting in grey ink on paper. The material quality of the paper is striking, with its worn edges and discolouration creating a sense of temporal depth. The script itself offers a dense field of textual information, tightly packed lines forming a visual texture. Tavenraat’s looping script pushes against any notion of fixed meaning. The handwritten text resists the uniformity of print, offering a more intimate and idiosyncratic form of communication. The act of writing itself becomes a performance, a way of marking time and space through personal inscription. The lack of clear divisions or hierarchy within the text prompts a visual and intellectual exploration, inviting viewers to decipher its layers. Ultimately, the artwork challenges the traditional boundaries between art and document, between personal expression and public communication, inviting us to reconsider the function and form of artistic creation.