Houten doosje bij munt 400 jaar Nederland-Manhattan 2009

This wooden box was crafted in the Netherlands to commemorate 400 years of Dutch-Manhattan history. It's hard not to consider this object without reflecting on the act of commemorating. I imagine the box maker, carefully selecting a light wood, planing it smooth, knowing this would be a vessel, a container for something precious, something meaningful. I imagine the touch of the craftsman's hand, the smooth plane, the satisfying click of the lid. I wonder, did they feel a connection to the historical event, or was this simply a job, a task to be completed? The printing is simple, elegant, like a signature, marking the occasion. This box has a utilitarian beauty, not unlike a Josef Albers print, something functional elevated to a high-art form. Thinking of all the human hands that helped make this moment in time live on, I’m reminded of how much we all owe to the collective effort of creativity, even in something as simple as a wooden box.