Terechtstelling van Lodewijk XVI 1793

This small medal, made from silver, commemorates the execution of Louis XVI. Medals like this one were typically die-struck; a design is carved in steel, and then used to impress the image onto a blank coin. The front of the medal features a portrait of Louis XVI in profile, while the reverse shows the guillotine in action. The executioner holds up the king's severed head. Consider the labor involved. The process of die-striking demands significant skill and precision, reflecting not only the artistry of the medalist, but also the broader social and political upheaval that it represents. The metal, a store of value, has been repurposed to carry a potent message: the end of aristocratic power. This medal challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft. Its value lies not only in the image it conveys, but also in the material and the making, both of which are deeply entwined with the history it represents.