Schetsboek met 36 bladen 1822 - 1893

Editor: Here we have "Sketchbook with 36 Pages," dating from 1822 to 1893 by Willem (II) Troost, crafted with a medley of watercolor and mixed media on paper, currently housed here at the Rijksmuseum. The worn texture makes it seem ancient, full of secrets. What stories do you think these pages whisper? Curator: Whispers indeed! It's like holding a captured moment, isn’t it? For me, these sketchbooks are fascinating time capsules. It makes you wonder, what kind of daily life, fleeting thoughts and major commissions might be chronicled within its leaves? These sketchbooks offer this type of deeply human perspective; it seems to offer Troost’s most candid, raw interaction with his craft. Editor: That's beautiful! It's like we're peering directly into his mind. What is your perspective on this piece and the sketchbook as a medium? Curator: It speaks to the fundamental role of sketching: as practice, but also as a kind of visual diary. The use of watercolor lends an immediacy; a lightness that I deeply appreciate. You almost feel you’re watching the scene unfold along with the artist. What grabs you the most, personally? Editor: I think its ability to carry so much personal information, these sketchbooks really create the connection between us as viewers, and the artist themselves. It creates such an intimate dialogue. Curator: Exactly! Perhaps art, at its best, always fosters that connection. The medium, the intention, the dialogue across time—it's all interwoven. Editor: Definitely gives me a fresh way to reflect on artistic expression! Curator: Absolutely. Here's to countless more sketchbook journeys!