Doos behorend bij een bronzen historiepenning by Toon Dupuis

1909

Doos behorend bij een bronzen historiepenning

Toon Dupuis's Profile Picture

Toon Dupuis

1877 - 1937

Location

Rijksmuseum

Listen to curator's interpretation

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Curatorial notes

This marble-veneered box by Toon Dupuis probably dates from the early 20th century and houses a bronze medal. I love how the swirling patterns of the marble seem to mimic the kind of unpredictable, almost chaotic processes that artists use to create. The way the veins intersect and branch off reminds me that making art is about embracing the unexpected, letting the material guide you. The box itself is modest, functional even, but there's a quiet complexity in the stone's patterning, a dance of dark and light. The thin gold trim that edges the box is like a frame, highlighting the abstract composition contained within. The organic pattern of the marble is in conversation with the perfect symmetry of the box's dimensions, a balance between chance and intention. It reminds me of the work of Eva Hesse, who also found beauty in the unexpected qualities of materials. Art is this ongoing dialogue, a constant searching for new ways to see and feel the world.