Beloningspenning voor de verdedigers van de Antwerpse Citadel (Citadelmedaille) 1832 1832

Editor: So, this is a bronze medal, or 'Beloningspenning,' from 1832, designed by Johannes Petrus Schouberg. It was awarded to those who defended the Citadel of Antwerp. It feels so weighty and serious. Looking at it now, it makes me think about the lives caught up in conflicts we mostly just read about. What stands out to you about it? Curator: It’s funny, isn't it? That something so small, you know, this little token of bronze and memory, could carry so much… baggage. I see the weight of history, sure, but also the weight of expectation and perhaps, the crushing weight of disillusionment. What happens to heroism when the battles fade and the stories become just…stories? Does the medal feel as heavy then? It is like asking what songs the sirens sang, eh? What untold tales lurk within it, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: I never thought about it that way. It makes me consider how these objects shift meanings across time. Is there a meaning specific to its creation in 1832? Curator: Oh, absolutely. Remember, this was a time of nation-building, of forging identities through struggle. Giving an object like this, particularly when its recipient is just a soldier, suggests a budding national pride and appreciation for sacrifices made in its name. This wasn’t just a bronze disc, this was proof that even you, you insignificant speck in the grand scheme of things, can matter. But it still does carry that heavy…baggage that maybe even makes us feel uncomfortable. Don’t you think? Editor: That really does add a completely different dimension to viewing the medal. I appreciate that, thank you! Curator: My pleasure! It seems every objet d'art has another surprise.