Touw c. 1590 - 1596

Editor: This photograph, simply titled "Touw," which is Dutch for "rope," dates from around 1590 to 1596. It’s credited to an anonymous artist and resides in the Rijksmuseum. I’m struck by the arrangement of the different ropes; it’s almost like a portrait of labor. What catches your eye about it? Curator: Well, the subject of the photograph itself is rope - a fundamental tool tied to labor and maritime history in the Dutch Golden Age. I'm interested in how the photographer – despite being anonymous – chose to present this everyday object. How might the process of rope making, the gathering and twisting of fibers, reflect the socio-economic structures of the time? Editor: That’s an interesting point. I hadn't considered the connection between the literal construction of the rope and the social construction of the time. The variation in texture also suggests different uses or stages of production. Curator: Precisely. Consider the contrast between the neatly coiled ropes and the frayed ends. Is the artist highlighting the cycle of production and consumption? This era in Dutch history was defined by its maritime dominance. Editor: So, you’re suggesting that these seemingly simple objects represent a much larger network of trade and labor? The tools on the ends of two of the ropes also bring a metallic element to what I otherwise thought to be a purely "natural" composition. Curator: Absolutely. It provokes us to ask: Where did the raw materials come from? Who spun the rope? And what vessels did this equip? Even further, think about photography's process—how light acts upon chemicals to create an image of these labor tools. In turn, it brings another set of means and labor into play, reflecting the everchanging nature of making. Editor: I see what you mean. I initially just saw ropes, but now I see an intricate web of human activity and materiality captured in a single image. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. Looking at art from the standpoint of its materials really opens a wealth of information.