Zeeslag bij Kaap La Hogue, de Fransen verslagen door de vloot van Engeland en Holland 1692

This silver medal commemorating the Battle of La Hogue was made by Philipp Heinrich Müller, a German medalist, in the late 17th or early 18th century. The medal celebrates the English and Dutch naval victory over the French in 1692. The image creates meaning through visual codes of nationhood. On one side we see symbols of concord between England and Holland. Britannia with her lion and William III crowned by victory, with the Dutch virgin playing the harp. The other side uses imagery of naval warfare to signify victory over the French. These medals played an important role in shaping public opinion and national identity. As historians, we can examine archival documents, political pamphlets, and other visual artifacts to gain a better understanding of the historical context in which this medal was created and consumed. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.