Fritz Reuter, 1810-1874, Writer [obverse] 1924

This circular bronze medal portraying writer Fritz Reuter was made by Karl Goetz, though we don’t know exactly when. I can just imagine Goetz in his studio, carefully carving away at the metal, each strike of the chisel building up Reuter’s likeness, those thoughtful eyes behind the glasses, the bushy beard, the hint of a smile. The texture of the bronze gives a sense of warmth, of familiarity, like an old photograph found in a forgotten box. See how the light catches on the high points, bringing Reuter to life? It reminds me a bit of Rodin's sculptures, that same attention to detail and emotion. It’s like Goetz is saying, "Here was a man who lived, who felt, who left his mark on the world." And now, through this medal, he lives on in our collective memory. It's just amazing how art can do that, isn’t it?