Zilveren huwelijk van Pieter van Winter en Elisabeth van Leeuwaarden 1742 1742

Curator: Isn't this just fascinating? This is a silver marriage medal commemorating the silver wedding anniversary of Pieter van Winter and Elisabeth van Leeuwaarden in 1742. Martin Holtzhey designed it, and I find its baroque style surprisingly intimate. Editor: My initial impression is rather stark. It feels…almost unsettling. The silver gleam emphasizes the somber allegorical figures, contrasting sharply with the celebration it's meant to represent. There's a weight to it. Curator: A weight, yes, perhaps the weight of expectation on marriage itself! Look closely at the allegorical figure on the left—Father Time with his scythe leading a child toward what appears to be a marriage altar. It’s both whimsical and a bit…menacing, wouldn't you say? The inscription that surrounds this vignette tells of love and faith leading past time's trials to celebrate their silver year. Editor: Absolutely menacing! To depict marriage under the watchful eye, or blade rather, of Time suggests more about social control and the patriarchal institution, less about love. I am also very drawn to the poem on the reverse side—It prays that the couple who've reached their silver year might also experience the golden one. This introduces an awareness of class structures, and the ever-present hope of achieving 'gold.' Curator: Right, so true. It becomes clearer when you note how wealth was a crucial component to enduring unions, doesn’t it? Although I am fascinated that despite all the traditional symbolism, the artists manages to capture something genuine. The composition with these playful, and not so playful, elements creates a dynamic tension that holds your gaze, no? Editor: I am interested that you mention its more lighthearted and fun qualities! Perhaps, beneath the weight of societal expectations, there's a genuine celebration of endurance. I guess the success of their "performance," the endurance of their roles in partnership over the years is being congratulated. It seems their wealth has allowed them a triumph against temporality, to beat time for a while! Curator: This reminds me how artworks are rarely mirrors. Rather, they are little wormholes to broader stories. It really speaks volumes, doesn’t it? Thank you, such an amazing way of perceiving what´s happening in this coin. Editor: Likewise, your reflections added crucial layers that shaped my reading.