Inhuldiging van Wilhelmina als koningin der Nederlanden, penning uitgedeeld onder schoolkinderen 1898

Editor: Here we have a metal pendant from 1898 created by Johannes Albertus Adolf Gerritsen commemorating the inauguration of Wilhelmina as Queen of the Netherlands. I notice how small it is, a delicate historical token. What symbols do you see in this piece? Curator: It’s fascinating how commemorative medals can compress so much symbolic meaning into such a small space. The portrait of Wilhelmina, for example, isn’t just a likeness. Consider the tradition of royal portraiture – it aims to convey authority, virtue, and legitimacy. This imagery is intended to instill feelings of pride and trust in the young Queen. Do you notice the imagery on the reverse? Editor: I see a figure, maybe an allegorical representation of the Netherlands, offering Wilhelmina flowers. Is this common for medallions like these? Curator: Absolutely. The female figure is a visual shorthand representing the nation. The flowers symbolize the blossoming of a new reign, the hopes and expectations placed upon Wilhelmina. These tokens reinforced a collective memory and identity and distributed among schoolchildren rooted these ideals deeply. Consider also the neo-classical style…what emotions do you associate with it? Editor: It seems to speak to stability, and grandeur. Curator: Precisely! It links the young Queen to an established lineage of power and respectability, helping legitimize the new monarch's image. And because this object was gifted to the generation being taught how to be citizens it ties nationhood and royalism together. Editor: So, this seemingly simple medal is doing a lot of cultural work, reinforcing national identity. Curator: Exactly. It reveals how powerful and intentional images are in establishing cultural memory and promoting societal beliefs. Editor: That's given me a lot to consider when I look at seemingly simple objects!