Vriesch Genootschap van Proefondervindelijken Landbouw 1834

This bronze medal was designed by Tjeerd Keikes, a Dutch artist, in the 19th century. It commemorates the "Vriesch Genootschap van Proefondervindelijken Landbouw", a Frisian society dedicated to experimental agriculture. The medal's imagery provides a fascinating window into the values of agrarian society in the Netherlands at that time. The prominent depiction of livestock suggests the importance of animal husbandry. The society's name inscribed around the image of the cow emphasizes empirical methods and scientific thinking. The blank space surrounded by a laurel wreath on the reverse side seems to denote the pursuit of knowledge and achievement through agriculture. To fully understand this medal, we might turn to archival records of the society itself, agricultural journals of the time, and economic histories of the Netherlands. Through such resources, we can begin to see how art like this reflects and shapes social values, economic conditions, and institutional agendas. Ultimately, this medal serves as a reminder that art is always embedded in specific historical contexts.