Bus van tin, fragment c. 1590 - 1596

Editor: This is a collection entitled “Bus van tin, fragment,” created around 1590-1596 by an anonymous artist. They’re currently housed at the Rijksmuseum and constructed out of metal. I’m immediately drawn to the texture—it looks like the metal is almost corroded, and they all have a cool, silvery tone. What strikes you about this assembly of objects? Curator: The repetition of forms is immediately apparent: the cylinders, the disks, the spheres. Observe how each component plays with positive and negative space. Consider the hollowness of the candlestick holders in relation to the solidity of the medallions. How do these structural relationships inform your understanding? Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn’t thought about the shapes in such a deliberately abstract way. It feels like a collection of geometric forms. So, is the focus on how each of the candle holders and medallions related to each other rather than the object’s purpose? Curator: Precisely. The artistry resides in how the artist manipulates these base forms, how they utilize variation to engage our visual perception. Note the contrast between the smooth surfaces and the textured areas; the vertical thrust of the candlesticks compared to the horizontality of the plates. Editor: That makes sense. Thinking about how the visual language of the materials speaks to each other really does reveal more about this sculptural presentation. Curator: And are these purely functional forms or can these be considered sculptural objects themselves? Perhaps an intentional composition created from previously useful objects? Editor: I think understanding the relationships of the metal forms makes it all the more rewarding to inspect closer! Curator: Agreed. Looking beyond the mere function can invite entirely new perceptions of such work.