Honderdjarige herdenking van de geboorte van Willem van Oranje 1933 1933

This bronze medal commemorating the birth of Willem van Oranje was made by M.P.J. Fleur in 1933. Imagine Fleur, hunched over, meticulously carving into the die, capturing a likeness of Willem. Look at the circular form, the way the face is pressed into being from the background, the dark against light, like memory becoming form. The figure’s gaze seems to drift off to the side – what was he thinking about? I imagine the careful calculations of pressure and depth, the physical labor, the precision needed to capture the details of his ruff and cap. The artist probably felt pressure to convey the essence of a historical figure in such a small compass. It’s like they are speaking to one another across time. What they each create builds on what came before. We bring our own perspective into the mix. There’s no single answer, no perfect way to read it. It’s about staying open to the possibilities, the multiple meanings that can arise.