Doosje, rond met deksel en een brede basis en opstaande rand c. 1590 - 1596

This small round box with a lid and wide base was crafted by an anonymous artist, and now resides within the Rijksmuseum. While seemingly simple, the lack of information about this box speaks volumes about the history of art and its institutions. The anonymity of its maker contrasts sharply with the celebrated names in the museum. In many ways, the art world has historically privileged certain classes and demographics, leaving behind a legacy of untold stories and unrecognized talents. Objects like this box, of unknown origin, were once excluded from the narrative of art. They can tell us about vernacular forms and about the ways in which meaning changes when an object enters an institution. It challenges us to question the criteria we use to define what is art, and whose stories are considered worthy of preservation and display. By exploring the social context and institutional forces that shape our understanding of art, we can begin to uncover the hidden histories embedded within objects like this box, enriching our appreciation of the past.