Huwelijk van Leopold I, koning der Belgen en Louise van Orleans te Compiegne 1832

This silver medal commemorates the marriage of Leopold I, King of the Belgians, and Louise of Orleans in Compiegne. Its circular form and compact size invite an intimate examination of its surface. On one side, the conjoined profiles of Leopold and Louise, meticulously rendered, occupy most of the space. The artist uses line and form to convey their status and the solemnity of the occasion. The texture of the metal provides a tactile quality, hinting at the weight and value associated with the monarchy. The date of the wedding, August 9, 1832, is inscribed on the reverse, anchoring the event in time. As an object, the medal is more than a record; it is a symbol, condensing political and social meanings into a portable, reproducible form. Its design, constrained by the circular format, employs a semiotic system of royal portraiture and commemorative text. Ultimately, its value resides not only in its material composition but in its function as a signifier of power, alliance, and historical record.