Afdeling Amsterdam van de Hollandsche Maatschappij van Landbouw, penning uitgereikt aan D. Kienhuize voor vijftig sierplanten 1853

Editor: This striking medal, crafted by Johannes Petrus Schouberg in 1853, is a piece of metalwork commemorating the Amsterdam Department of the Dutch Agricultural Society. The relief sculpture possesses an impressive tactility that calls to be touched. What strikes you about this object? Curator: Immediately, I am drawn to the juxtaposition of textures and forms. Consider the rigid geometry of the agricultural tools in contrast to the flowing, organic shapes of the laurel wreath that encircles the inscription. And then there is the hand holding it. Editor: Yes, I did notice it! How are those elements working in concert? Curator: Observe how the precise lines of the engraved text, "Hollandsche Maatschappij van Landbouw," are carefully balanced by the relief work on the front face. What does it signify? A dedication? Editor: Perhaps. And the hand on the top clasp – a reference to reward? Curator: Indeed. Note, also, how the light interacts with the raised surfaces, creating subtle tonal variations that accentuate the medal’s three-dimensionality. Are these choices functional, artistic, or both? How are these two- and three-dimensional shapes creating the piece, and does the artist challenge how each is usually conceived? Editor: That’s a great point – it’s easy to overlook the depth of thought put into something like this. I initially saw it just as a historical artifact, but now I’m appreciating the artistry. Curator: Precisely. Analyzing how the object reflects light across its surfaces and understanding the composition in geometric terms are not just descriptive exercises; they are pathways to unlocking its symbolic depth. Editor: I see what you mean. Thanks for that illuminating point about this piece. Curator: My pleasure. I am always glad to think more analytically.