Opheffing Nederlandsche Overzee Trust Maatschappij, 1919 1919

Curator: Standing before us is a bronze relief titled "Opheffing Nederlandsche Overzee Trust Maatschappij, 1919," crafted by Johannes Cornelis Wienecke. This medal commemorates the dissolution of the Netherlands Overseas Trust Company in 1919. Editor: The somber brown of the bronze really amplifies a sense of history and seriousness. The detail is incredible for such a small object. It almost feels weighty, like a historical artifact you’d hold onto. Curator: Absolutely, its materiality emphasizes the importance of this event. On one side, we see a ship sailing, flanked by what appear to be cannons. It represents the company facilitating trade during World War I. The cannons and planes speak volumes about the surrounding conflict, providing protection. It served as a crucial intermediary, ensuring the flow of goods to the Netherlands despite the war. Editor: What’s especially compelling is how the symbolic language is dualistic. We see war but the imagery does suggest trade neutrality and how commerce often operates alongside geopolitical struggle. Curator: And if we turn the medal over, we find a coat of arms and the years 1914-1919. Wheat stalks wreath around it, perhaps indicating prosperity or bounty following the conflict. It represents closure, looking toward post-war rebuilding, using symbolism to express complex circumstances. Editor: Given the period, this symbol also hints to a hope for a better, flourishing and safer future. Do you believe the Dutch citizenry understood the significance when they beheld it? Curator: These objects provided a way to create a collective narrative, reminding people of a period where neutral negotiations became a political instrument during the conflict. It shows the complex relationship between power, economy, and neutral politics, immortalized within a weighty art object. Editor: This is more than a mere decorative object; it's a condensed narrative. We gain an understanding about the complexities of neutrality during a global conflict, how one company navigating tricky international situations really shows the blurred boundaries during this chaotic period. Thank you for clarifying some of its fascinating symbolism! Curator: My pleasure, to reveal such a fascinating symbol during a chaotic time encourages greater reflection in what the Dutch faced. It also presents how important this topic is for audiences to reflect about.