Aardbeving te Lissabon 1755

This silver medal commemorating the earthquake in Lisbon was created by Johan George Holtzhey. The circular form is divided into two scenes, each meticulously detailed. On one side, we observe a female figure, allegorical perhaps, amidst the chaos of the earthquake. Notice how Holtzhey has used sharp, angular lines to depict the crumbling earth, contrasting with the smoother, rounded forms of the clouds and the figure. This tension between destruction and a semblance of order invites a semiotic reading. The earthquake not only destabilizes the physical landscape, but also any assumed sense of stability. The other side presents a cityscape of Lisbon, with ships at sea, but even here, the formal rendering suggests a world disrupted. Consider the semiotic function of coinage. Its usual purpose, to facilitate trade and affirm economic stability, is ironically inverted here. It serves as a reminder of sudden devastation.