Karel van Croy, hertog van Aarschot, prins van Chimay 1596

This small silver medal depicts Karel van Croy and was created by an anonymous artist. The medal’s circular form is bisected by two distinct images. One side presents a profile of Karel van Croy encircled by text, while the other features an eagle emerging from flames beneath a radiant sun. The medal's form, a perfect circle, creates a sense of classical harmony. Yet, this harmony is disrupted by the intense realism of the portraits which contrasts with the stylized, almost allegorical depiction of the eagle and sun. The artist plays with contrasts, setting detailed textures against smoother surfaces, drawing the eye into a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. This interplay raises questions about the nature of representation itself. Is the medal a straightforward depiction of power, or does it hint at deeper, perhaps contradictory meanings? It invites us to consider how art can simultaneously affirm and destabilize established notions.