Overwinningen op de Zweden, ter ere van admiraal Niels Juel 1677

Editor: So, this medal, "Overwinningen op de Zweden, ter ere van admiraal Niels Juel" created in 1677 by Johann Höhn, seems like it wants to convey power and triumph, especially with that naval battle depicted. What catches my eye, though, is how flat it is, almost like a coin. What's your interpretation? Curator: This medal functions as more than just a historical record; it’s a carefully constructed symbol. Consider the profile of Niels Juel. It’s a deliberate invocation of classical portraiture. He isn’t simply a man; he is intended to embody enduring virtues – leadership, strength, victory. How does that profile affect your reading of the battle scene? Editor: It definitely adds weight, I guess. I initially saw it as a somewhat generic depiction of naval conflict, but now it feels like it’s saying Juel's victories were almost inevitable. Curator: Exactly! Now, consider the maritime imagery. Do you recognize any visual cues within this imagery that hint at established ideas about Danish power? How might these emblems influence the medal’s purpose as a cultural object? Editor: I do see the ships, the obvious signifiers of naval power, and the chaotic waves which underscores the victory *over* that chaos. Curator: It speaks to a visual language intended for those 'in the know' at the time. By intertwining specific symbols, and these can change drastically with the tides of time, but it creates something potent to its viewers then. We can only interpret as outsiders looking in, centuries removed. Editor: It's amazing to think of all the meaning embedded in these old images. I hadn’t considered the strategic use of visual language so deliberately employed here. Curator: Precisely. Each line, figure, and detail has the power to echo narratives that speak through time.