Nieuwjaarspenning 1750 1750

Editor: This is the "Nieuwjaarspenning 1750," a New Year's medal made in 1750 by Johan George Holtzhey. It appears to be made of metal and uses a relief engraving. Considering its purpose as a new year token, its symbolic scenes on either side give it a rather somber tone. What's your perspective on this piece? Curator: This piece embodies the complex relationship between artistic production and societal structures. Let’s consider the materials. The use of metal itself – perhaps silver, given the image – speaks to particular economies of extraction, trade, and labor in 1750. Who mined it? Who refined it? Who had access to it? How did the material cost inform production? Editor: So, beyond just seeing it as a celebratory object, you're interested in the story of its creation, down to the physical labor involved? Curator: Precisely! Holtzhey's role is crucial, but what of the workshop practices that underpinned this refined relief? Was he personally involved in all steps of crafting the metal, or did his studio include various artisans specializing in engraving, polishing, and other tasks? Think about the knowledge and skills being deployed here and how that may affect our view on the design and intended meaning. What social classes might use such tokens, and how does their circulation mirror larger patterns of wealth distribution? Editor: It makes me think about who could even afford or appreciate this medal at the time. The layers of creation you mentioned and the audience create so much more context. Curator: Exactly! So it’s not just a decorative object commemorating the new year, but it acts almost like a time capsule representing materials, production methods, labor relationships, consumption patterns, and how these economic factors contribute meaning. Editor: That certainly gives me a lot to consider and appreciate about this coin beyond just its artistic depiction and history!