Leopold Willem, aartshertog van Oostenrijk, landvoogd der Spaanse Nederlanden 1647

This is a silver medal of Leopold Willem, Archduke of Austria, Governor of the Spanish Netherlands, made by Jerôme Duquesnoy the Younger in the 17th century. The art of medal making involves the careful selection and manipulation of precious metals like silver. The silversmith would have employed techniques such as engraving and chasing to create intricate designs in low relief. The material's inherent qualities, like its reflectivity, would have been used to enhance the visual impact of the portrait and heraldic symbols. The process itself is a meticulous, skilled craft. The creation of such a medal speaks to the economic and social systems in place, where artistry was commissioned by and served to celebrate the powerful. The labor-intensive nature of the work and the precious materials involved underscore the value placed on such objects as symbols of prestige. By considering the materials, making, and context, we gain a fuller appreciation of how art objects like medals operated in society and how they challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.