Doos van karton van Hirsch & Cie Amsterdam after 1882

This cardboard box was made by Hirsch & Cie in Amsterdam. Its material tells us a lot: cardboard is a humble substance, of course. But it’s also the bedrock of global capitalism – a cheap, lightweight, easily printed material that has been central to logistics for well over a century. The ridges in the cardboard give the box structure, making it easier to stack, pack, and ship. Notice, too, how the box is printed with the Hirsch & Cie logo, a form of branding which adds perceived value and transforms this object into something more than the sum of its parts. Consider the labor involved here. From harvesting the raw materials, to pulping and production, to the labour of box construction, printing, and finally, distribution. It’s a whole system, and the box is just one small element within it. Thinking about materials, making, and context helps us understand the significance of what might otherwise seem a rather ordinary object.