Driehonderdjarige relatie Nederland-Curacao 1934 1934

Jacob Jan van Goor made this bronze medal in 1934. It’s a lovely little thing, only six centimeters in diameter! I wonder about the experience of making something like this. It’s so different from making a painting, but in some ways, it isn’t. I imagine van Goor carefully carving away at the metal, working and reworking the image, trying to get the likeness just right. The inscription that encircles the portrait, the texture of the metal, the way the light catches on the surface; all these elements speak to the artist’s attention and skill. I notice the serene profile of Queen Wilhelmina. The artist captures her regal bearing, but there's also a sense of vulnerability. It’s interesting how these different qualities can coexist in a single image. Making art, whether it’s a painting or a medal, is about more than just replicating what we see; it's about revealing something deeper. Van Goor’s work reminds us that art is always a conversation across time.