Aansporing tot voorzichtigheid bij de vredesonderhandelingen te Munster 1647

This medal, made in 1647 by Johannes Looff, is of silver. You can see on its face a ship at sea, and on the reverse a coat-of-arms. The act of minting a coin is a fascinating process. Metal is mined and refined, then carefully measured and stamped. In this case, a relatively soft material, silver, has been chosen to capture fine detail. Look closely, and you will see the image is crisp despite the medal's small size. The choice of this material speaks to the importance the Dutch placed on these events. Silver embodied the power, wealth, and influence of the Dutch Republic. Consider, too, that this object may have been circulated and handled widely; this piece of portable propaganda would have been a constant reminder of the negotiations underway. Though small, it speaks volumes about the intersection of art, politics, and everyday life in the 17th century. We can see how material choices and modes of production imbued objects with cultural significance beyond their aesthetic appeal, challenging our notions of art history.