Onderkant van een doosje 1898

Here we have a small, unassuming box bottom, likely made in the late 19th century by Johannes Albertus Adolf Gerritsen. It’s a humble object, yet it prompts us to consider the hidden stories and afterlives of everyday things. During Gerritsen’s time, the Netherlands was undergoing significant social and economic change, which perhaps influenced his appreciation for the mundane. This simple cardboard box might have once held something precious or banal. The act of preserving its bottom, now marked with an inventory number, transforms it into an artifact worthy of attention. Consider the labor, materials, and systems of commerce that brought this box into being. It serves as a reminder of the countless unseen objects that shape our lives and histories. It invites us to reflect on what we choose to preserve and what we discard, and what these choices say about our values and priorities. This small box bottom becomes a vessel for larger questions about memory, value, and the stories we tell ourselves about the past.