Bakje om kroontjespennen in weg te zetten, gebruikt door Dr. W. Drees 1910

This small, anonymous glass container once held the pen nibs of Dr. W. Drees. Can you imagine it sitting on his desk? It is a humble little thing. The purple nibs sit inside, caught in the bottom like jewels. Did he arrange them like that or did they just fall? It's so quiet. It feels like a still life, like Morandi, but with a job to do. I imagine Dr. Drees reaching for a fresh nib, the light catching the glass, and then back to his work. Maybe signing important documents, or just writing a letter to a friend. I can imagine the way the nibs feel in the hand, the way they smell. Maybe the artist thought about the relationship between utility and art. Or maybe they just needed a place to put their pen nibs. Either way, it’s a reminder that art is everywhere, and that even the most ordinary objects can be beautiful.