Driehonderdjarig herdenking van de oprichting van het Athenaeum Illustre te Amsterdam 1932 1932

Bertus Sondaar crafted this medal in 1932 to commemorate the three-hundred-year anniversary of Amsterdam's Athenaeum Illustre. The overall palette is quite muted, with a sort of greige-bronze tone dominating the piece. To me, this emphasizes the history it embodies; artmaking is a process, and the patina of time is part of this one. Looking closely, the textures are subtle yet defined. Sondaar uses shallow relief to create depth, giving the impression of layered space despite the coin's flatness. The details, particularly in the trees flanking the central structure, are intricate. See how each leaf seems individually rendered? This reminds me of the kind of patient, methodical mark-making you find in illuminated manuscripts, giving the piece a reverential feel. The interplay of symbols at the bottom—the scales, the caduceus, the Amsterdam coat of arms—speak to a culture steeped in learning and civic pride. Sondaar's work shares some qualities with that of designers like Peter Behrens, particularly in its clean lines and symbolic language. Ultimately, this medal invites us to consider how meaning is embedded in form.