Gustave Wappers, schilder te Antwerpen en Willem Geefs, beeldhouwer 1835

This bronze medal was made by Adolphe Jouvenel in 1835. The material itself, bronze, is a key to understanding its purpose: to commemorate two important Belgian artists, Gustave Wappers, a painter, and Willem Geefs, a sculptor. Bronze is durable, and capable of holding fine detail, making it a perfect choice for this kind of commemorative object. Consider the making process. Molten bronze would have been poured into a mold, capturing the likenesses of the two artists in relief. The act of replication is important: this wasn't a unique sculpture, but rather something produced for wider distribution. The crisp lettering and the wreath on the reverse side testify to a certain level of industrialization, even at this early date. While we might think of medals as minor objects today, they were once an important means of celebrating individuals and events, permanently recording them in a relatively democratic format. Recognizing the artistry in this medal allows us to reflect on broader cultural values and how they are expressed in material form.