's-Hertogenbosch, vroedschapspenning op de aanleg van de steenweg van 's-Hertogenbosch naar Eindhoven 1741

Curator: Oh, this one's interesting. It's a medal, or 'vroedschapspenning,' from 1741 commemorating the construction of the stone road between 's-Hertogenbosch and Eindhoven, designed by Theodorus Everardus van Berckel. It is rendered in metal using engraving techniques. Editor: Huh. It’s like looking at two completely different worlds pressed onto one coin. One side seems practical, grounded in landscape. The other is almost theatrical, mythological figures and weighty symbolism. Curator: Precisely! The imagery speaks to the importance of infrastructure in civic life. The town view anchors the initiative, emphasizing local impact through commerce and movement. The city is portrayed quite idyllically. Editor: Yeah, but it feels staged somehow. Look, the perspective is a little off and the buildings seem oddly…regimented? It's more about an idea of a town than an actual place, right? Curator: That’s the Baroque style asserting itself. It's idealized and ordered—expressing the aspirations of the governing class, the 'vroedschap.' And if you turn it over, you have the promotion of progress and trade through those allegorical figures. Editor: Ah, Mercury, right? With his caduceus, the symbol for trade and negotiation. And is that…Prudence perhaps? Sitting on what looks like a globe—pretty powerful statement for a road. This is more than paving stone; this is empire-building. Curator: Definitely. Building such a road represented a massive undertaking, signaling modernity and reinforcing state power by optimizing commerce. In the early 18th century, accessibility dictated a region’s potential, not just for economic growth, but in defense strategy as well. Editor: It is fascinating, the contrast. Public works presented as classical virtue. Sort of turns mundane construction into an almost spiritual act. Talk about spinning something... Curator: Exactly! A small object, but a window into the political and cultural ambitions of its time. Editor: This has truly made me rethink the layers packed into what seems a simple commemorative object. Infrastructure made glamorous. Curator: Indeed. Each element carefully selected to convey a sense of purpose and societal betterment through—in essence—commerce and mobility.