Dubbelloops vuursteendraailoopgeweer c. 1650

Curator: Let's consider this "Double-Barreled Flintlock Revolving Rifle," created around 1650 by Jan Kitzen. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum, and it’s primarily crafted from metal and wood. Editor: It’s certainly striking! It’s interesting how functional objects can be elevated to art, or exist within a dual designation of purpose and decoration. I’m especially intrigued by the level of craft required to produce something like this in the 17th century. What's particularly important about looking at it now, do you think? Curator: Absolutely! The gun’s very existence, constructed meticulously from specific materials in a particular time, forces us to consider the networks of resource extraction, labour, and power involved. Think about the mining and smelting of the metal, the felling and shaping of the wood. Each process implicated social relations of the time. Does the elaborate decoration clash or amplify these inherent links between resources and social change? Editor: That's a powerful way to look at it! I suppose the materials themselves carry historical weight that changes over time. Is there significance in choosing *these* materials versus something else that was readily available? Curator: Precisely! The decision to use precious metals for embellishment speaks to a display of wealth and power but think more about *who* controls the distribution and commodification of materials? The gun, in this context, becomes more than just a tool; it becomes a symbol of the period's socio-economic landscape. Who was purchasing or commissioning work from artisans such as Kitzen, and to what end? Editor: This gives me a whole new appreciation for the work! Seeing it not just as an object but as a product of intertwined social and material forces. Curator: Exactly. By examining the gun's materiality, we gain insight into the structures and relationships that shaped its creation. Editor: It changes how I would perceive this type of artwork in the future. Thanks!