Medalje over Kong Frederik VI 1833

Erling Eckersberg created this un-dated medal of King Frederik VI using engraving. The process involves meticulously incising an image onto a hard surface—traditionally a metal plate—with tools like burins or gravers. The fine, deliberate lines that define the king's profile and the allegorical figure are a testament to the engraver's skill. Notice how the material's capacity for holding detail influences the overall aesthetic, capturing not just likeness but also imbuing the subject with a sense of importance. Engraving has historically served purposes beyond art. The technique was essential for mass production, think of currency, official documents, or even printed illustrations. This medal exists at an interesting intersection: it employs a technique often associated with reproducibility to create a unique object honoring a monarch. It makes you consider how craft and industrial processes can both reinforce social hierarchies and democratize access to images and information.