Willem V, prins van Oranje-Nassau en zijn beide zonen 1786

Editor: So, here we have Johann Heinrich Schepp’s bronze relief from 1786, titled *Willem V, prins van Oranje-Nassau en zijn beide zonen*. It’s striking how classical it feels, like looking at an ancient coin, but also incredibly personal given it depicts a father and his sons. What symbols do you see operating here? Curator: Indeed. Consider how rulers have historically sought to immortalize themselves and their lineage through symbolic imagery. A classical relief is often shorthand for power and lasting legacy, isn’t it? What do you notice about the decision to depict Willem with his sons, rather than alone? Editor: I guess it suggests the importance of dynasty, of continuity? Passing the torch, maybe? Curator: Precisely. And notice the direction they face – all looking towards the future, perhaps projecting an image of hope and stability during a potentially tumultuous time. But what about the classical style itself? What feelings does it evoke in you? Does it still hold power today, do you think? Editor: Definitely stability. Maybe it also presents them as virtuous leaders by alluding to Roman ideals, or something like that? I can see how using recognizable visual cues, that build upon each other over time, creates new meanings with this form. Curator: Exactly! That's the power of iconography – the layering of meaning across centuries. A coin signifies value, not only of money, but here of a particular family line that connects present, past and future through classical symbols that reinforce legitimacy. Thinkers from Walter Benjamin to Aby Warburg have so elegantly expressed the long duration of images that come down to us freighted with meaning. Editor: That’s fascinating. I never considered a coin like this being such a complex layering of symbolic and art historical context, building up connections between a family and established, culturally agreed upon, forms of power.