Hendrik Danielsz. Hooft, burgemeester van Amsterdam 1787 - 1794

Curator: We're looking at a striking relief portrait, believed to be of Hendrik Danielsz. Hooft, the mayor of Amsterdam, dating back to between 1787 and 1794. The piece is part of the Rijksmuseum collection. Editor: My first impression is one of austerity and formality. The muted silvery tones of the metal contribute to a solemn feeling, and the intricate wig… it speaks of a very specific, perhaps restricted, social role. Curator: Absolutely. The period coincides with a resurgence of Neoclassicism. What might seem restrained to us, was considered a visual embodiment of civic virtue and reason during that era. These medals acted almost as totems. Editor: Metalwork, especially in relief, requires significant skill and labor. Who was creating these? Was it a guild-controlled process, or were individual artisans gaining prominence? And how was the metal sourced? That alone could tell us so much about trade and economic power. Curator: Indeed. Consider, too, how portraiture itself became a tool. A symbolic marker of status and authority, carefully deploying specific codes – in this instance the civic leader is enshrined as a lasting image. The pendant form suggests private commemoration, or even a symbol of affiliation worn in a group. Editor: Right, and it raises questions about accessibility and consumption. Was it unique to this one subject, or produced in multiples for a select class of people? Curator: I imagine its weight would give you a palpable sense of connection to the subject; and a visual anchor relating to larger sociopolitical movements. I feel we learn volumes about both material processes and image cultures of this period from studying artifacts like these. Editor: I agree. Even just by considering this object's fabrication and use, we touch upon a complex nexus of labor, economics, and visual representation that offers insight into Dutch society in the late 18th century.