Gerard Vissering bij het vijfenzeventigjarig bestaan van het Fonds tot Uitkeering bij Overlijden van Beambten van de Nederlandsche Bank N.V. 1938 1938

Curator: Let's examine this bronze relief from 1938. The full title is quite a mouthful: "Gerard Vissering bij het vijfenzeventigjarig bestaan van het Fonds tot Uitkeering bij Overlijden van Beambten van de Nederlandsche Bank N.V." It commemorates Gerard Vissering upon the 75th anniversary of the Dutch Bank's employee death benefit fund. Editor: My first impression? Somber. It has that weighty, official feel characteristic of commemorative pieces, almost like a historical seal pressed in metal. You can see it in the gravity of his expression, even in profile. Curator: Indeed. Medals like these served a very public function. They weren’t just about celebrating an individual; they were about solidifying the institution and communicating its values. The bank probably distributed these widely, both to employees and other stakeholders. Editor: I wonder, though, about celebrating a death benefit fund during the rise of fascism in Europe. There’s a strange juxtaposition between this quiet assurance of financial security and the looming sense of instability in the air. Curator: An astute point. The imagery promotes stability during increasingly turbulent times, suggesting financial institutions offering assurance even during potential disruptions. Editor: Exactly. It makes me question the broader societal context. Who benefitted from this system? What about those excluded? It reflects a very specific kind of security – one likely unavailable to marginalized communities. Even the portrait style – very formal, very…male. Curator: Agreed. It emphasizes traditional power structures and their symbols, further reflecting whose narrative is being memorialized. Perhaps there are other documents to help see a wider perspective about the role the Nederlandsche Bank played in these tumultuous times. Editor: I find it striking how an object, seemingly intended to represent assurance and legacy, actually invites a deeper interrogation of its cultural moment. The very limitations it imposes can offer invaluable starting points. Curator: Precisely. These pieces open conversations around the construction of collective memory and highlight the complex relationships between power, institutions, and individuals.