Fragment van vierkant slot op een kist c. 1590 - 1596

Editor: This object is a Fragment of a Square Lock on a Chest, made around 1590-1596 by an anonymous artist. It's in the collection of the Rijksmuseum and made of wood and metal. What I first noticed is the level of decay in the fragment itself. It looks almost like it was pulled out of the ground after centuries. What strikes you about this work? Curator: I see stories whispered in the rust, my dear! Can't you almost feel the weight of secrets locked away, of whispered confessions and hidden treasures? This isn't just a lock; it’s a sentinel of bygone days. The fragility also really touches me - knowing that what this object guarded might now be lost. Does it conjure anything up for you personally? Editor: That's a beautiful image, that it's a guardian of forgotten secrets. And to be honest, I didn’t initially think of it that way - I focused on the decay. But you’re right, even broken, there is an imposing quality to it. What about its design and its purpose as a functional object, what can you say about that? Curator: The functionality fades into shadow, doesn’t it? Though the stark geometry contrasts brilliantly with the disintegration - the square form so perfectly containing what now just spills away - but it also speaks to the futility of holding onto things too tightly. Isn't that the cruel irony? It’s intended to keep things secure, yet here it is, decaying before our very eyes. Editor: That’s a great point about holding on too tightly. So in the end, it’s both a beautiful meditation on time and the illusion of control. Thank you for sharing your perspective, it really opened my eyes to seeing more in this intriguing piece! Curator: My absolute pleasure. Art's most rewarding when it makes us rethink, reimagine, and reach for something more.