Septemberdagen te Brussel en Luik, ter ere van degenen die voor de onafhankelijkheid van het vaderland hebben gevochten 1830

Editor: So, here we have "September Days in Brussels and Liege, in Honor of Those Who Fought for the Independence of the Fatherland," made of metal relief in 1830 by Adrien Hippolyte Veyrat. It's a medal, and I'm struck by the use of a seemingly commonplace material—metal—to commemorate such a pivotal moment. What is your take on it? Curator: Well, it is a commemorative medal cast in metal. Think about the socio-economic conditions. Metal, while relatively common, still represents an investment of resources, both in the raw material and the labor required to shape it. Minting such objects provided employment for workers. How do you interpret the mass production of this medal, given the historical context of the Belgian Revolution? Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn't considered the economic impact. So, the mass production isn't just about honoring the fighters but also about stimulating the economy through labor and material consumption? Curator: Precisely. And let's not forget the significance of distributing these medals. It could have been used as a reward for military actions and for political endorsement, or simply sold as affordable memorabilia, all influencing consumption. The materiality isn’t divorced from the event; it's deeply entangled. Do you see how examining the metal and its transformation reshapes our understanding of the medal itself? Editor: Absolutely. I initially viewed it solely as a historical artifact. But thinking about it as part of a larger system of production, labor, and consumption reveals another layer. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. The seemingly simple medal becomes a potent symbol of economic and social forces at play during the revolution. A great finding, thank you!