Overlijden van Wilhelmina Frederica Louisa, koningin der Nederlanden 1837

This silver medal commemorating the death of Queen Wilhelmina Frederica Louisa was made by David van der Kellen, a 19th-century Dutch medallist. What strikes you first is the composition of the medal. On one side, a draped female figure leans mournfully against a column, her gesture one of profound grief. The lines are soft, and the relief is subtle, creating a sense of depth within the small circular space. Opposite, the stark, geometric arrangement of text detailing the Queen's birth and death dates, framed by a border of stars, offers a visual counterpoint. In considering the medal's structure, we see a dialogue between classical allegory and precise historical record. The weeping figure, a conventional symbol of mourning, is juxtaposed with the unyielding clarity of the inscription. This contrast destabilizes any singular interpretation, inviting us to contemplate the interplay between public duty and personal loss. The medal becomes a site where history and emotion intersect.