Haak, plat met drie spijkergaten c. 1590 - 1596

This flat hook with three nail holes was forged from iron by an anonymous maker. Notice the linear quality of the hook, its form defined by a rugged verticality. The composition is structured by a simple, elongated rectangle that tapers slightly, culminating in the functional curve of the hook itself. The three circular voids punctuate the iron's surface, creating a pattern. The hook’s rough texture and deep brown hue, speak to its materiality and the conditions of its making, and perhaps to its age and the environmental factors it has resisted. The structure embodies a duality, as it is both a functional object and a study in form. The interplay between its utilitarian purpose and its visual construction invites us to consider how simple forms can articulate complex ideas about use and aesthetics.