Spaanse veroveringen in Amerika, ter ere van Filips II 1580

This bronze medal, celebrating Spanish conquests in America, was made by Gianpaolo Poggini in the late 16th century for Phillip II. The medal's method of production, likely involving casting and chasing, speaks to the established traditions of metalworking in Renaissance Europe. On one side, the portrait of Phillip II is a strong statement of power, emphasizing his role as a global leader. The other side depicts a female figure, representing ‘India’, offering riches to the Spanish king. This reflects the colonial mindset of the era, where America was seen as a source of wealth to be exploited. The medal’s small scale belies the vast amounts of labor extracted from the so-called ‘New World’. From mining precious metals to cultivating cash crops, entire populations were subjugated. A work like this reminds us that even seemingly innocuous objects can be deeply implicated in larger systems of power and exploitation.