's-Hertogenbosch, vroedschapspenning op de aanleg van de steenweg van 's-Hertogenbosch naar Eindhoven 1741

Editor: This is a silver medal from 1741 by Theodorus Everardus van Berckel, commemorating the construction of the road from 's-Hertogenbosch to Eindhoven. I’m struck by the contrast between the detailed landscape on one side and the allegorical figures on the other. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This medal presents a fascinating intersection of civic pride and classical symbolism. Beyond its commemorative function, it offers a glimpse into the 18th-century Dutch Republic's understanding of progress and power. I see an active engagement with Enlightenment ideals, yet rooted in very local concerns. Look closely: on the one side, we see a fairly accurate depiction of 's-Hertogenbosch; on the other, what appears to be Mercury, the god of commerce, extending a caduceus toward a seated female figure. How might this pairing reflect the sociopolitical values of the time? Editor: It seems like they’re trying to legitimize the new road by linking it to these classical ideas of trade and prosperity? Almost as if saying, “This isn’t just a road, it’s progress!” Curator: Precisely. This medal embodies the power of infrastructure as a form of social engineering. Roads were not merely paths for travel but veins of commerce, conduits of control. The depiction of Mercury underscores the inextricable link between economic growth and societal power. I encourage you to consider how this image normalizes power structures of that period through its imagery of "progress". Does this form of subtle societal endorsement still appear in our society today? Editor: Absolutely. Now that you mention it, infrastructure projects are often presented as universally beneficial, when their impact can be quite uneven, even detrimental to marginalized communities. This medal reveals an old but recurring strategy. Curator: It is a potent reminder that even seemingly innocuous objects can reveal deep-seated ideologies. By dissecting these symbols, we gain a deeper understanding of how power operates within society. Editor: Thanks, this completely changed the way I see this medal. Now I see the road, and everything riding along with it.