Medaille met portret van Riederes after 1835

Achille Collas created this print of a medal featuring a portrait of Riederes in the 19th century. The medal is, of course, a very old art form, and in 19th century Europe was used to commemorate famous individuals or events. In this case, Riederes may well have been someone known in Dutch intellectual circles, given Collas' attention to detail in capturing his features. This print by Collas gives the impression of a three-dimensional object, a tangible piece of history. What was the purpose of making a print of a medal? Was it to make it more widely available, or perhaps to make it more accessible to a wider audience? Was it an attempt to democratize art and make it more available to the masses? These are just some of the questions that art historians can explore when studying prints of medals. By researching the context in which they were made, we can gain a better understanding of the role that art played in 19th century society.