Model of a 30-Pounder Gun on Deck 1837 - 1838

This is a model of a 30-Pounder Gun on Deck, created by Rijkswerf Vlissingen. The artwork is dominated by the contrast between the light, unfinished wood and the dark metal of the cannon. The geometric lines of the wooden structure sharply contrast with the cannon, and the rounded cannonballs, each sitting neatly beside one another, create a rhythm against the straight wooden lines. Looking at the model, one thinks of Foucault's theories about power and representation, and how a society's technology is a form of social control. This cannon, perfectly designed and presented, represents the structure of military power. Notice the interplay between the smooth surfaces of the cannon, its support and the deck and the rougher texture of the ropes and the carved designs in the wood which may point towards more abstract philosophical debates about form and function. This tension makes us consider how the functionality and design are inextricably linked.