Krantenknipsel uit archief Philip Zilcken after 1910

This small newspaper clipping from November 1910 celebrates Rodin’s 70th birthday, or as they say, “L'Hommage au Génie.” The layout has that classic newspaper look; dense columns of text, announcing the tributes pouring in from admirers of the “genial sculpteur.” What strikes me is the physicality of this object: the fragile, yellowed paper, the imperfections of the printing, and the way the edges are roughly torn. Each mark is a tiny, but critical gesture. Someone handled this, read it, maybe kept it as a memento. The marks, like the small imperfections and smudges, aren’t perfect, but they carry a human touch. Thinking about process and how Rodin’s hands shaped clay, this paper offers its own form of touch, each line a tiny inscription. This artifact reminds me of something like Schwitters' collages. They transformed everyday materials into art, elevating the mundane into something poetic. Both embrace the beauty of ephemera, reminding us that art is often found in unexpected places.