My first book, which was assigned to me, “Recueil des plans, profits, et elevations de plusieurs palais, chanteaux, églises, sepultures, grottes, et hostels: bâtis dans Paris, et aux enuirons, auec beaucoup de magnificence, par les meilleurs architectes du royaume by Jean Marot. I can very well remember how I reacted when I found out that my book was in French. I said to my friends: ” It was clear that I would get a book in a foreign language.”
I was very unsure at the beginning. I thought we had to read our books. Eventually it turned out that we didn’t have to read the books. In addition, my book consisted only of images. So my relationship with my book was not really good at the beginning. I prejudiced our relationship/friendship. In addition, I didn’t know how to deal with such an old book. To build a friendship you would have to get to know each other, but how should I get to know my book if I don’t read the book?
At this point in time, I have never really seen my “friend”. So I tried to do some research on the internet, but I didn’t really find too much information on the internet. Our relationship was also very shallow at the beginning. We only met on the internet.
Later we met in the Oechslin library in Zurich. It was a great honor for me to meet him. I opened it and I flipped through each page. And I could get to know him better and better through every page.
Unfortunately, our paths soon separated. Because in task 4 I was given a new book because my old friend was just images. It was a shame that we went our separate ways because I was just getting to know him.
Unfortunately, it is sometimes the case that some paths separate and their can be room for new friendships. My new book, which has been assigned to me, is “Principles of Art History” by Heinrich Wölfflin. Heinrich Wölfflin was a Swiss. So we just had one thing in common. His book was written in English. We also had better contact over the internet. I was able to learn a lot more about him online than my first friend, but I haven’t had the chance to meet my new friend.
In the last task, I had the honor to meet five more “friends”. It was a great pleasure for me to meet them. Everyone was very open, humorous and polite.
After all these tasks, it was a great experience and I have gained a new perception of the importance of a book through these tasks.
My path separates again for a while, but I am sure that one day I will see them again.