Willem IV, prins van Oranje-Nassau 1748

Dillis van Oyen created this oval silver medal depicting Willem IV, Prince of Orange-Nassau. It reflects the Dutch Republic's complex relationship with power, identity, and colonial ambition. Willem IV is portrayed in profile, exuding authority, while an allegorical figure of a cherubic child, probably representing innocence, holds a flag, symbolizing dominion. The medal itself acts as a form of propaganda, reinforcing Willem’s image as a divinely appointed leader. Note how the inscription, which encircles the portrait, underscores his titles and connections to the Dutch East India Company, a crucial arm in the Dutch colonial project. Consider the emotional impact this medal would have had on those who possessed it. It was likely intended to inspire a sense of national pride, while simultaneously reinforcing existing hierarchies of class and power. It embodies the tensions between the desire for national identity and the realities of colonial expansion and its associated exploitation.