Doos bij plaquette uitgereikt aan Bart van Hove bij de internationale wereldtentoonstelling te Brussel, 1910 1910

Here's a rectangular box made around 1910, probably by a specialist craftsman whose name we don’t know. I'm really drawn to the box’s rich brown color and the way the light catches the gold trim. I can imagine the hand that carefully crafted each detail, smoothing the corners, and ensuring the lid fits just right. It's not painting, but in my mind, it kind of is. Inside this box was a plaque that went to Bart van Hove at the international exhibition in Brussels. I wonder how he felt when he received the award? Did he open the box right away? I wonder if he even liked the box! What I love about art – even this unassuming little box – is how it embodies a gesture of recognition and becomes a time capsule, sparking endless questions and connections. It's a conversation across time.