David Jorisz, leider der wederdopers 1538

Curator: Isn't this little silver relief rather striking? The Rijksmuseum attributes it to an anonymous artist working in 1538. It's a depiction of "David Jorisz, leader of the Anabaptists." Editor: It has an odd, silvery luminescence, almost ghostly, and seeing it like this really conveys the feeling that I'm unearthing something… a secret, perhaps, hidden in plain sight. I like that it's a medallion, something small, held close, like a thought. Curator: Exactly. Think about its function – likely a personal object, maybe even a sign of devotion. On one side, we see a portrait of Jorisz in profile, looking every bit the prophetic leader with that elaborately ornamented crown. Editor: Crowns are a fascinating symbol, aren't they? A marker of divine right or worldly authority but, here, potentially a rebellious statement. Is he the uncrowned king, then? How powerful this feels, a portable claim! The other side depicts a religious ceremony. Do you read particular symbolic cues from that? Curator: Oh, certainly. We've got what appears to be an open-air gathering. And with musical instruments—lutes maybe? I imagine these details, rendered in such miniature, would have been crucial signifiers within the Anabaptist community itself. They spoke of faith in the vernacular, breaking from stricter, more ornamented ritualism, almost a musical conversation! Editor: Absolutely! Those instruments, almost naive in their rendering, communicate an informal gathering, not a staged theatrical spectacle. They symbolize togetherness and that makes this piece of propaganda more heartfelt and approachable. It speaks of rebellion, togetherness, shared dreams! It isn't grand and bombastic—small but carrying monumental weight. Curator: Given the Anabaptists' radical beliefs for the time—adult baptism, pacifism, communal living—the artist certainly distilled a great deal into a very compact form. Consider the risk involved, perhaps, and why anonymity made such practical sense for both maker and owner. Editor: It brings a shiver, thinking about the clandestine nature of the whole thing, doesn't it? The power of tiny, whispered symbols, passed from hand to hand in defiance of larger, crueler systems… Curator: Right. Next time, maybe we can explore the context a little further, look into Anabaptist art practices. Editor: Definitely. For now, I carry an imprint, that secretive shine lingering, whispering its defiance.