"The Four Parts of the World" A4 notebook
White paper. Sewn binding. A4 (29.5 x 20.5 cm).
On the occasion of the exhibition On the Reverse, held at the Museo Nacional del Prado from 7 November 2023 to 3 March 2024, the magnificent work reproduced in this practical notebook is presented to the public: The Four Parts of the World (1660-1666) by Jan van Kessel the Elder. In the context of this exhibition, this work shows how small-format rigid supports were as suitable as paper for recording works in progress or making notes during an apprenticeship session or an outing to draw from life. The copper panels from the two series that van Kessel the Elder painted are a good example of this type of manifestation; in this particular case, the panels were reused and several notes were preserved on the backs.