Bedstede in het huis De Pauw te Dordrecht 1819 - 1884

Johannes Rutten made this watercolor of a box bed in Dordrecht. The bed is made of carved wood with decorative elements. This kind of bed was once a staple of Dutch homes, especially in the more rural parts of the country, offering both warmth and privacy. The woodwork is the thing to really consider here. Wood is a material that can be worked in so many ways – sawn, planed, joined, carved – and each of these processes has its own implications. This bed was clearly made by someone with advanced carpentry skills. Notice the geometric panels, fluted columns, and delicate balustrade. These are features that would have been created with specialized hand tools, demanding immense care. What we see in this image, then, is more than just a piece of furniture. It's a record of skill, labor, and a particular set of aesthetic values, one that elevates the everyday object to the level of art.