Tentoonstelling van land- en tuinbouw te Arnhem, ter ere van Willem III, koning der Nederlanden, penning uitegereikt aan H.J. Wilke voor zijn ananassen 1854

Editor: We’re looking at a bronze medal, created by David van der Kellen in 1854. It commemorates the agricultural exhibition in Arnhem, awarded to H.J. Wilke for their pineapples. The classical bust on one side and the text surrounded by laurel on the other feel very…balanced, almost predictable. What structural elements define its visual impact for you? Curator: Consider the visual dialogue created through contrasting forms. The relief of Willem III’s profile, gazing steadfastly, interacts with the inscribed text framed by laurel branches. Note how the roundel itself functions as a contained space, a miniature stage for the interplay of power and achievement. Editor: So, the shape itself becomes a significant part of the piece's visual language? Curator: Precisely. The circular form implies completeness, cyclical time, perhaps even echoing ancient Roman coin designs used to disseminate power. The inscription, rendered in a formal script, further reinforces the gravity of the event. What do you make of the textures? Editor: I notice the contrast between the smooth, polished surfaces and the more roughly textured areas around the laurel wreath, almost like deliberate visual separation? Curator: Indeed. It allows us to appreciate the varying degrees of artistry employed. One could say that the materiality of the bronze acts as a bridge between classical ideals and tangible, 19th-century recognition. The work becomes more dynamic, inviting our tactile imagination into play. Editor: So, stripping away the historical context, focusing just on form and texture gives this piece renewed visual depth? Curator: Yes, absolutely. It encourages close visual scrutiny, rewarding careful observation beyond its mere function as a commemorative object. Editor: I see, thank you! Looking beyond the subject, it’s a lesson in balance, material, and form. Curator: Indeed, a composition worthy of careful visual assessment.