Isaac van Goudoever, kolonel van het Witte regiment van de schutterij op de Dam 1787

This small, detailed silver box was made by Harmanus Perizonius van Eysen, and presents a curious objet d'art for consideration. The metallic luster immediately catches the eye, reflecting light in a way that accentuates the contours of the sculpted bust of Isaac van Goudoever, a colonel of the civic guard. The box is divided into two distinct parts, the upper half featuring the bust and the lower half an inscribed base. The composition suggests a formal and hierarchical structure. The subject, elevated in bust form, signifies status and authority, while the inscribed base anchors the figure in a context of recognition. This division implies a semiotic relationship between the individual and their societal role, asking us to reflect on the interplay of identity and public image. The box-like nature also suggests an interiority, a hidden dimension beneath the surface of public persona. Consider how the very form of the object, a container, invites us to question what it holds, both literally and metaphorically. It challenges fixed notions of representation, suggesting that identity is not just a static image but a layered, multifaceted construction.