Mislukte vredesonderhandelingen te Keulen 1579

This small medal, dating from around 1540 by Gerard van Bylaer, presents a fascinating study in miniature. The object’s circular form encloses a dense composition on both sides, primarily in a muted bronze color. The textures suggest an attempt at intricate detail. On one side, a lion reclines next to a pillar, encircled by text, which gives the image a structured yet somewhat enigmatic quality. Turning the medal over, we see figures flanking a similar lion motif, now juxtaposed with what appears to be royalty and symbolic objects. The lines are precise but worn, suggesting both meticulous craft and the inexorable effect of time. This medal functions as a semiotic device, with the lion, pillar, and figures acting as signs. Together they communicate power, negotiation, and perhaps, as the title suggests, failure. The circular boundary of the medal then reinforces the idea of containment and perhaps failed resolution.