Vijftigjarig huwelijk van Hendrik Bernard Martini, oud-pensionaris en raad van 's-Hertogenbosch en Anna Maria Emelia van Schagen 1774

Editor: So, this engraved metal print, created in 1774 by Theodorus Victor van Berckel, is titled "Vijftigjarig huwelijk van Hendrik Bernard Martini…", celebrating the 50th wedding anniversary of this couple. I am struck by the deliberate craftsmanship, the material itself acting as a testament to permanence. What do you see in this piece that speaks to a broader understanding of art and society? Curator: I’m immediately drawn to the materiality of this medal. Metal itself has a history, linked to trade, wealth, and power. An engraving commemorating a 50th anniversary elevates a personal event using valuable material – wasn't that an exclusive commodity then, in 1774? Editor: That’s an interesting point. It transforms a domestic partnership into a publicly recognised and almost officially sanctioned event through material consumption. Did the couple somehow "earn" that privilege by their actions, service, etc.? Curator: Exactly. Consider the labor involved: mining the metal, refining it, the engraver's skill... each stage reflects social relationships of production. It challenges our conventional notions of "art," bringing labor and craft into view. What can it say to us now, to put so much attention on that couple, through precious, worked material? Editor: So, beyond just representing the couple, the piece acts as a status symbol because of what it's made of? Highlighting the consumption element in a society and a means to create art that still echoes today... It's kind of a thought provoker! Curator: Precisely. And reflecting on our current relationships with the manufacture of symbolic mementos invites examination of class, value, and visibility. I wonder how we commemorate a milestone these days, by way of material possessions or perhaps other modes that tell as much of a social story? Editor: I suppose in our current materialist consumption trends we might lose that message today... Food for thought! Thanks for opening my eyes to those elements.