Lak, staafje c. 1590 - 1596

Editor: We’re looking at "Lak, staafje," a small earthenware piece dating from around 1590 to 1596, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. The glaze and texture are fascinating but I find the fragment somewhat confounding; what elements stand out to you? Curator: The materiality is of primary interest. Notice the coarseness of the earthenware. The fragment possesses a rather earthy quality with an absence of ornamentation. Its fractured edges serve as a crucial part of its composition. How do the surface textures and coloration affect your perception? Editor: Well, the color seems unevenly distributed. The exposed earthenware and glaze create a study in contrast. Is the visible numbering typical of ceramics of this period, or does that introduce an element of post-production categorization that speaks more to modern archival practices? Curator: A pertinent observation! Indeed, the numbering likely pertains to inventory. Focus, however, on the form itself: consider its concise, almost elemental nature. The anonymous nature of its creator directs our focus squarely onto its intrinsic attributes rather than contextual narratives. Does appreciating this as pure form rather than a crafted object alter your reading of it? Editor: I think so. Stripped of context and the creator's intention, the artifact almost presents as something unearthed from the ground - simply earth, shaped by earth. I now find that disruption from archival numbering creates a fascinating dynamic when contextualized through materiality and color. Curator: Precisely! By contemplating such aspects as texture, form, and composition without seeking narrative interpretation, our aesthetic appreciation evolves, and offers a more nuanced experience.