Hendrik Lemens, ontvanger van de stad Antwerpen 1582

Editor: This is a bronze medal from 1582. It's inscribed “Hendrik Lemens, receiver of the city of Antwerp”. It is so weathered. I can't even really make out any kind of portrait on it, although I suppose it’s there under the scratches and patinas. What do you see in it? Curator: More than a portrait of an individual, I see a symbolic rendering of power and identity in the late Renaissance. Think about the symbolism inherent in medals and coins: they aren’t just money, they communicate ideals about leadership, prosperity, and even civic virtue. What cultural memories were the issuing authorities hoping to trigger? Editor: So it's less about Hendrik Lemens himself, and more about what Antwerp wanted to project about itself at that moment? Curator: Precisely. Consider the images or symbols that persist even through the weathering and damage to the metal. That damage itself becomes a symbolic marker of time and historical disruption, reflecting the turbulent era in which it was created. Each abrasion, each corroded area contributes to a new symbolic weight. Editor: I guess it really shows that symbols evolve as their contexts change. Thanks, that gives me a lot to think about. Curator: My pleasure. It is fascinating how objects outlive their makers and accumulate such a complex history.