Doos waarin de bruidsjapon is bewaard before 1909

This is a cardboard box, titled 'Doos waarin de bruidsjapon is bewaard', which roughly translates to 'Box in which the wedding dress is kept', by Hirsch & Cie. N.V. It's funny, isn't it? That a container should be the thing we look at, rather than the content. The box seems so unceremonious, so utilitarian. There's something so matter-of-fact about the brown cardboard and the neat printing, yet the box becomes imbued with meaning by its precious cargo. It's like a plain canvas, patiently waiting for the artist to add the first daub of paint. The marks are subtle; a printed logo, handwritten notes, a small paper label. Each imperfection adds a layer to the narrative. The tape holding the box together speaks of fragility and impermanence, but isn't that what makes it so special? The box reminds me of boxes that John Cage kept, filled with rocks and feathers, each with a different story. The box becomes a vessel for memories, a container for dreams.