Spotprent op het voornemen tot het slaan van een medaille op de liefdadigheid na de watersnood, 1861 1861

This is a drawing by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans from 1861, a design for a medal intended to commemorate charitable acts after a flood. The drawing is a fascinating insight into the intersection of art, craft, and social function. The design shows clear engraving techniques, with meticulously rendered lines defining the figures and their surroundings. We can also see the use of visual metaphor. On the one hand, people are being saved from a flood, while the other side of the medal depicts a well-dressed man chopping down a tree, perhaps representing the aid being delivered. The inscription 'donatores pientissmi' which means 'most devout donors' reinforces this sentiment. The drawing is also tied to labor, politics, and consumption. The medal itself would have been produced through skilled labor, requiring the expertise of a medalist. It also reflects the socio-political context of the time, where acts of charity and commemoration were often formalized through medals and tokens. Ultimately, understanding the materials, making, and context is crucial to appreciate the artwork's full meaning, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.