Doos van karton waarop gedrukt 'A. Schröder & Co./ Leidschestraat 32-6' en geschreven 'Bruidsjapon Riekie 21 juni 1921' before 1927

This cardboard box was made by A. Schröder & Co., in Leidschestraat in 1921, to contain a wedding dress. Look at how time has transformed something so prosaic into something quietly evocative, almost painterly. I love the understated palette of browns and creams, layered up like an Agnes Martin. The printed text sits next to the handwritten text, preserved together on the box; a poignant trace of human activity. The marks on the box, scuffs and foxing, all tell a story. The off-white label in the upper right of the box is particularly beautiful; a subtle tonal variation that suggests an absent presence. The Dutch artist, Armando, comes to mind, his paintings often evoked the weight of history through muted colors and simple forms. This artwork reminds us that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places, and that the everyday can be elevated to the extraordinary through time and attention.