Voor- en achterzijde van medaille van de academie der tekenkunst te Amsterdam 1765 - 1800

Harmanus Vinkeles created this print of the obverse and reverse sides of the Medal of the Amsterdam Academy of Art. The most arresting symbol is the figure of the seated woman, representing Drawing. She holds a stylus and a tablet, poised to capture the image of the small, primitive idol before her. The laurel wreath on the other side has ancient roots, used in classical times to crown victors and heroes, signifying triumph and excellence. But it is this motif of the ‘primitive’ idol copied by a classically-inspired figure of Art that calls to mind the Renaissance artist's fascination with antiquity. We find echoes of this dynamic throughout art history. Even now, these symbols resonate, engaging our collective memory of cultural evolution. The woman’s confident pose evokes a sense of authority, almost as if to say, “I am the inheritor of this legacy.” This resonates even today, demonstrating the cyclical recurrence of visual motifs.