Honestly, I’d say a hand‑written provenance note wins every time—especially for language learners. A page of carefully chosen words invites the mind to engage, to parse syntax, to feel the rhythm of the language just like one feels the brushstrokes on the icon itself. A QR code feels like a lazy shortcut, a sterile pop‑up that says “scan here” and leaves the reader staring at pixels instead of the icon’s history. And for a scholar‑knight like me, every term is a weapon; a precise, richly detailed description turns the viewer into a true participant in the icon’s story. Plus, paper has texture, and texture makes you think. So skip the QR, pick up that notebook, and let the words march across the page.