Penningdoos van rood leer c. 1800 - 1900

Editor: So this is a photograph of a pen box, crafted from red leather, sometime between 1800 and 1900. It’s anonymous, adding to its mystery, don't you think? I'm struck by how…contained it seems. What do you see in it? Curator: That containment is key. What narratives are suppressed or protected within such a meticulously crafted object? The red leather itself speaks volumes. Consider the semiotics of color – red historically links to power, status, and even violence. Was this a box for official documents, for declarations of love, or perhaps even secrets better left undisturbed? Editor: That's a powerful interpretation! I hadn't considered the colour symbolism. Do you think the intended audience influences its design? Curator: Absolutely. The gold trim adds another layer. Gold denotes value, exclusivity. Who was this box intended for? Was it a gift from a colonizer to curry favour, a repository of power during imperial rule? Perhaps, also think about who was excluded from accessing objects such as this: whose voices remained silenced? The photograph itself performs this historical act of silencing as it is an anonymous photograph of an anonymous box. It's as though the past wishes to erase any evidence of wrongdoing! Editor: So the image invites us to imagine what it may contain. What do we gain by speculating this way? Curator: By looking closer we bring the act of colonial subjugation and power back into the realm of visual discourse, it asks of us that we recognize it, talk about and analyze its use. This object exists beyond its mere functionality; it becomes a focal point for reflecting on historical legacies and power dynamics still active in today’s society. Editor: That really shifts my perspective. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. I’m always excited to see how historical objects trigger a dialogue on broader sociopolitical topics!