Landsteiner-penning voor bloeddonatie bij de Bloedtransfusiedienst van het Roode Kruis 1931 - 1944

Editor: This is the Landsteiner medal for blood donation at the Blood Transfusion Service of the Red Cross, crafted between 1931 and 1944 by Jacob Jan van Goor. It's rendered in bronze, a rather formal portrait. What do you see when you look at this medal? Curator: Primarily, I am struck by the interplay between the relief of the portrait and the flat, polished surface of the bronze. Note how the artist employs varying depths and crisp lines to articulate Landsteiner's features – the brow, the set of his jaw – conveying a sense of scientific authority. The lettering, too, contributes to the overall visual texture. Editor: The typography is very much of its time, isn't it? Almost classical. Curator: Precisely. The selection of the typeface and its arrangement are carefully considered, contributing to the formal quality of the design. And what do you make of the polished surface? Editor: Well, the shine draws attention, giving it an almost… commercial appeal. It highlights the form, makes you want to touch it. Does the circular shape contribute anything? Curator: Circularity, in this context, suggests wholeness and continuity. Perhaps echoing the life-giving nature of blood donation itself. Consider how the artist juxtaposes the coolness of the metal with the warmth of the subject's contribution to humanity. These formal elements combine to create a powerful, if understated, statement. Editor: That’s an interesting contrast, thank you for sharing your thoughts. Curator: And thank you for your astute observations. It's a piece that yields new insights upon repeated viewing.