Wereldtentoonstelling te Luik 1905 1905

This medal was made by Alphonse Michaux to mark the World Fair in Liege in 1905. Look how the designs are etched into the surface; it’s almost like drawing but with metal! The silvery grey tones and the way the light catches the raised parts give it a cool, modern feel. You can almost feel the weight and the smoothness of the metal just by looking at it. Notice on one side how the figures have flowing robes that connect them, while the other depicts them as separate. Michaux knew what he was doing. It reminds me a bit of some coins and medals made by Pisanello back in the Renaissance, but with a cleaner, Art Nouveau twist. It's like artists keep having this conversation across time. Anyway, it's all about the world fair, but the message is open to whatever you bring to it.