Kogelslot met restant van de sleutel c. 1590 - 1596

This is an anonymous padlock with a key fragment, made from iron. Notice the striking contrast between the smooth, spherical body of the lock and the rough, textured loop and stubs that extend from it. The patinated surface speaks volumes about the passage of time and the cumulative effect of environmental conditions. The lock’s design echoes the basic geometry often found in minimalist sculpture, where simple forms invite deeper considerations. The sphere and the keyhole present a binary relationship, an interplay between containment and access. Is the keyhole a void or a passage? The lock challenges binary oppositions, suggesting that security and vulnerability are interconnected rather than mutually exclusive concepts. It evokes questions about power, control, and the illusion of both. Consider how the lock destabilizes notions of fixed meaning; it serves not just as a functional item but also as a symbol of the complex relationship between protection and restriction.