Gemaskerde optocht door de studenten, ter ere van de 295e stichtingsdag van de Universiteit van Leiden 1870

Editor: We’re looking at a medal from 1870 by David van der Kellen, titled "Masked Parade by the Students, in honor of the 295th Anniversary of the University of Leiden.” It appears to be an engraving, possibly on metal, and it depicts some sort of celebration. What do you make of this piece? Curator: It's a fascinating piece of civic history rendered in miniature. Consider Leiden University's prominent position in Dutch society. To commemorate its anniversary with such a medal signals its cultural importance. These celebratory medals served as potent symbols of institutional pride and social cohesion. It reflects a broader trend of universities seeking to solidify their standing through public displays. How do you see this piece engaging with the public role of academia? Editor: I see it as kind of insider-y. Like, unless you were *part* of the university, you wouldn't fully get the significance. It’s commemorating a specific anniversary for a specific institution, it might not resonate with everyone. Curator: Precisely. And that "insider-y" aspect is key. Medals like these circulated within networks of power – academics, alumni, civic leaders – reinforcing their shared identity and values. But, if we think about this object beyond the academic sphere and into the Dutch political scene, do you consider its symbolism in relationship to contemporary socio-political issues? Editor: I don’t know much about 19th-century Dutch politics… it sounds complicated! It’s interesting to think that even a small medal like this can tell a bigger story about power and identity. Curator: Indeed. By examining it through the lens of its social and political context, we begin to understand how even seemingly simple objects participate in complex networks of meaning and power. This isn't just a pretty image; it’s a small artifact with significant symbolic and cultural weight. Editor: I hadn't really thought about medals in that way before. It makes you wonder what kind of similar symbolic gestures are common today.