Lijst van hals-, buik- en bovenbeenspieren in Duits en Latijn 1906 - 1945

This list of muscles, made by Reijer Stolk, probably in the 1940s, has a visual rhythm that reminds me of concrete poetry. Imagine the artist carefully selecting each typeface and the weight of the line, almost like choosing the precise brushstroke. I can see Stolk, head bent over his work, meticulously aligning the German and Latin terms. The black bars, like minimalist blocks, segment and anchor the text. They give the work its formal and material quality, so that it almost feels like a kind of sculpture. This piece exists in a strange, intriguing space between art and science, language and the body. In a similar vein, consider artists such as Hanne Darboven or On Kawara, who use seriality, repetition, and documentation as artistic strategies. Ultimately, this list transcends its functional purpose. It’s an invitation to consider the body, language, and representation – what does it mean to inscribe and categorize the human form? How does this process change our perception of ourselves and the world?