Vijftigjarig bestaan van het Rijksmuseum te Amsterdam 1935

This medal commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam was made by Dirk Bus. The Rijksmuseum was founded in 1885, but this medal was made in 1935 amidst a global depression and the rise of fascism in Europe. The medal presents two faces. On one side, we see an allegorical figure of a woman in a helmet, representing wisdom and the arts, and on the other, a depiction of the Rijksmuseum building itself. The female figure embodies the museum's mission to safeguard art for future generations. Yet, this classical, arguably idealized, representation of womanhood also speaks to the limitations and traditional expectations placed on women in the arts and in society at this time. Although the piece might read as a simple celebration, it also serves as a potent reminder of how cultural institutions like the Rijksmuseum function as guardians of collective memory and identity. It's a poignant reflection on the museum's role during times of economic hardship and growing political unrest.