Tentoonstelling van Nederlandsche en koloniale nijverheid te Arnhem 1879

This is a medal commemorating the Dutch and Colonial Industry exhibition in Arnhem, made in 1879 by Izaak Alexander de Vries. The circular form is divided into two distinct faces, each offering its own composition. One side features an allegorical scene with a female figure, possibly representing industry or the Netherlands itself, amidst symbols of production and colonial goods. The arrangement here is quite deliberate, a structured tableau that speaks to the order and progress envisioned by the exhibition. In contrast, the other side presents an inscription, a textual arrangement that serves to declare the event and its historical context. Notice how the lettering is carefully spaced and sized, suggesting a formal hierarchy of information. Together, both sides engage in a dialogue about representation and meaning. The visual and the textual elements work in tandem to convey a message of national pride, colonial achievement and industrial advancement.