Gevangenneming en vrijlating van Jacob Cardinaal 1777

This anonymous medal, likely crafted around 1777, presents two contrasting scenes. The left side is dominated by confinement. Jacob Cardinaal peers out from behind bars, the architectural lines of his prison stark against a stormy sky. The diagonal slashes of lightning break up the landscape, creating a sense of unease. This section is further emphasized by the inscription around the edge which mirrors the somber imagery. Conversely, the right side presents liberation. Figures stand beneath classical columns, a formal structure suggesting order and societal norms. Yet, the gathering of figures hints at a challenge to these norms. The medal encapsulates a narrative arc, using spatial arrangement and symbolic imagery to highlight themes of oppression and freedom, engaging with contemporary political discourses through carefully constructed visual binaries.