Geboorte van prinses Juliana 1909 1909

This bronze medal was made to commemorate the birth of Princess Juliana in 1909 by Cornelis Begeer. The making of such an object, the molding, the carving, the smoothing, the polishing; it’s a whole world of careful labor right there in your hand. On one side, there are the profiles of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Hendrik. I wonder, did they sit for this? How long? Were they bored? On the other side, a symbolic scene unfolds with allegorical figures. Look at the details: the textures and the way the light catches on the raised surfaces. Think about Begeer, carefully sculpting these tiny details, trying to capture the essence of royalty, history, and hope for the future. It makes you think about all the other artists and artisans who came before him, each contributing to the ongoing story of art.