Model of a 30-Pounder Gun on Deck c. 1827 - 1828

Curator: Isn't it remarkable? This detailed sculpture, crafted around 1827-1828, offers us a scaled look at a 30-pounder gun mounted on a deck. An anonymous artist created it with mixed media including wood, and it's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Initially, I see a disturbing sense of forced perspective, a deliberate containment of destruction. It’s unsettling in its miniature form, like a child's toy, yet representing an engine of war. Curator: It’s that very contrast that I find so engaging. You've got the almost naive craftsmanship alongside the deadly purpose. What narratives do you imagine swirling around its creation, within the context of the time? Editor: I can't help but think about power, colonialism, and control. Naval strength was central to projecting dominance, ensuring the subjugation of other nations, specifically via colonial routes, trade chokeholds, slavery routes. This model romanticizes such oppression through artifice. I see, hear, smell burning wood, iron and gunpowder and also imagine forced bodies, shackles, and so much blood spilled. Curator: Yes, that dark history casts a long shadow. Still, I find myself drawn to the artistry itself. Look at the delicate rigging and the intricate details of the gun carriage. I'm in awe by this anonymous hand, maybe sketching plans from life itself. Maybe with dreams about new shapes? Maybe he even poured his nightmares here... I can smell tar and hemp. It reminds me of my granddad's workshop and small tinkles during childhood. Editor: It's impossible to detach the object from its function though. Art does not exist in a vacuum. We must engage with that uncomfortable historical burden of maritime warfare—its inherent violence and subjugation. Curator: I understand your position. Looking at this today can give us pause, let's sit and reflect. It is so loaded! Thanks for pointing out those nuances that force us to be ever aware. Editor: Absolutely, acknowledging this history is vital for understanding art and society. I thank you to open doors of my sensitivity with this deeply crafted model!