Waaierdoos van ivoorkleurig karton, taps toelopend c. 1907

This ivory cardboard box by Rica Palache is subtly tapered, and I love how modest and understated it is. It feels so unassuming, as if it’s trying to hide, to avoid drawing attention to itself. I can imagine Rica carefully choosing the right thickness of cardboard, testing how it folds and holds its shape, and thinking about the fan it might protect. I’m wondering if Rica made the fan inside too, or if she was just thinking about its shape as she made the box. The box seems to whisper about the fan – its secret and silent partner. The delicate lines and careful construction of the box remind me of Agnes Martin's grids, so precise they become like a field of gentle sensation. It’s amazing how something so simple can hold so much care, intention, and quiet beauty. It makes me want to slow down and appreciate the small, often unnoticed objects that surround us.