Aanvang van het jaar 1749 en vrede te Aken 1748 - 1749

Editor: Here we have "Aanvang van het jaar 1749 en vrede te Aken," or "The beginning of the year 1749 and peace in Aachen," created between 1748 and 1749 by Martin Holtzhey. It appears to be a metal medal or relief. It has a very classical, almost Greco-Roman feel to it. What strikes me are the figures on both sides and their relationship to peace and the passage of time. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: The imagery speaks volumes, doesn’t it? Look at the figure on the front. Bathed in light, holding a laurel branch, a symbol of victory and peace since ancient times. She's surrounded by clouds, almost like she's emerging from a tempest, a visual metaphor for hope arising from chaos. And opposite her, the image of Justice herself? Scales, peace branch in hand, and the watchful eye of the lion beside her. What message does that combination send, do you think? Editor: That it’s not enough to have peace; there needs to be justice to maintain it? The lion symbolizing strength and vigilance adds another layer. It's a very direct visual argument for lasting peace through strength and equity. Curator: Precisely. Holtzhey is invoking a long tradition of associating peace with both victory *and* justice. Think of how many times we see those elements together across different cultures, different eras. It's as if those visual cues, the laurel, the scales, bypass conscious thought and tap directly into our collective understanding of what peace *should* entail. Are these symbols of peace presented similarly to other artifacts from this period? Editor: Well, certainly I see echoes of similar images of justice and peace in paintings and sculptures, but the directness of this imagery is very powerful. Especially considering its medium, making it widely available. I now see how these symbolic visual elements communicate powerful ideas about cultural memory. Thank you! Curator: Indeed. Medals were often used to disseminate specific messages quickly, to broad audiences. It's a fascinating intersection of art, politics, and cultural memory. Food for thought.