Model of a Rudder with a Cap 1860

This is a model of a rudder with a cap, meticulously crafted by Rijkswerf Vlissingen. The artwork presents a fascinating interplay of geometric forms and raw materiality. The wood, with its warm, earthy tones and visible grain, contrasts with the cool, metallic gleam of the steel pin. The composition is structured around precise lines and planes, creating a sense of balance and stability, yet it's disrupted by the angular tilt of the rudder. This tension between order and disruption can be viewed through a structuralist lens, highlighting how seemingly simple forms can convey complex ideas about control, direction, and the negotiation of forces. The rudder, a tool designed to guide and navigate, is itself captured in a static, almost abstract form. This invites us to contemplate the very nature of functionality and representation, questioning how objects embody meaning through their design and context. It reminds us that any interpretation can be further challenged by the ever-changing currents of perception.