Inname van Montmedy en huwelijk van Lodewijk XIV en Maria Theresia, koning en koningin van Frankrijk 1660

This small, anonymous medal commemorates the capture of Montmedy and the marriage of Louis XIV and Maria Theresa. The medal presents us with a study in contrasts and juxtapositions through its structure. One side shows the conjoined busts of Louis and Maria, facing each other intimately, framed by Latin text. The obverse depicts the siege of Montmedy, a scene of conflict, with figures and architectural forms rendered in low relief. The juxtaposition of war and matrimony suggests a union of power and love, a calculated arrangement to consolidate authority. Consider the inscription, acting as a border. It is a semiotic device, framing and defining the subjects, yet also subtly binding the couple and the siege. The medal challenges fixed meanings, engaging us with new ways of thinking about power and representation.