Geboorte van prinses Juliana 1909 1909

Johannes Cornelis Wienecke made this bronze medal in 1909. It commemorates the birth of Princess Juliana. The artist is working within a tradition, right? Like, they're thinking about historical precedents and what it means to make a commemorative object. The medal is small, but its imagery feels grand. I bet Wienecke was thinking, "How do I pack all this symbolism into this tiny space?" And I like how one side has a regal portrait, while the other features a blindfolded, standing figure. I wonder what it was like to create something like this; such a weight of expectation. How to balance personal expression with the demands of public sentiment? Still, this medal feels solid and enduring. A quiet conversation across time.