Diploma behorende bij de gedenkpenning bij het vijftigjarig bestaan van Natura Artis Magistra, 1888 1888

Editor: We're looking at a print from 1888, a "Diploma behorende bij de gedenkpenning bij het vijftigjarig bestaan van Natura Artis Magistra," which, judging from the style, is an engraving. It depicts a monument-like structure with classical figures. The figures to the sides and front seem very realistically rendered in contrast to the stylized monument. What's your read on a piece like this, historically? Curator: It’s fascinating how this print intertwines the visual language of civic pride with the rising prestige of scientific institutions. “Natura Artis Magistra,” that is the Amsterdam Zoo. Its 50th anniversary wasn't just a celebration of an institution, but also a public demonstration of faith in science and the power of classifying and understanding the natural world. Editor: I see that; it almost seems to be deifying the zoo itself! What is up with those classically styled figures? Curator: Precisely! Note the allegorical figures on top, reminiscent of classical depictions of wisdom and nature, but they are there placed on a plinth that serves as the institutional record itself! Who do you think this kind of commemorative engraving spoke to at the time, and what function might it have served? Editor: Well, probably the shareholders, or board members. It feels like propaganda for the zoo—like today’s version would be an instagrammable moment to drive up visitorship! It's kind of incredible to consider how institutions build legitimacy through imagery, even back then. Curator: Absolutely. And seeing this “instagrammable moment” as a modern counterpart really clarifies how public image and institutional prestige were carefully crafted, then and now. An occasion like this served not only to celebrate history, but to galvanize financial and social support for the institution going forward. Editor: I guess art really does reflect the values we hold as a society, even in what looks like just a certificate. Thanks for shedding some light on it!