Sierpenning van de Vereeniging voor Penningkunst 1934 1934

This commemorative medal was made in 1934 by Leendert Bolle. It's a small bronze round, almost like a miniature world, and into this world, Bolle has pressed the image of a bird swooping down towards a tiny boat. I love the feeling of being up high, with the wind rushing through my feathers, and the way Bolle has captured that is really amazing. You can feel the bird's weight, the power in its wings as it dives, and the boat below is so small, almost vulnerable. What do you think the bird is thinking as it soars above the water? Maybe it’s considering the journey ahead, or the quiet solitude of the open sea. The light, creamy color adds to the dream-like quality, like a memory or a scene from a story. I find myself wanting to know more about the bird, the boat, the whole story of this little world. It's a reminder that art can transport us, even in the smallest of forms.