Inname van Winnersburg door de hertog van Guldenleeuw 1676

This medal, by an anonymous artist, commemorates the taking of Winnersburg by the Duke of Guldenleeuw. At first glance, the medal presents a study in contrasts. The two sides offer different facets of the same event, united by the circular form, a visual constraint that shapes the narrative. One side presents an allegorical column, the other the city itself, each rendered with a stark minimalism. This simplicity belies the complexity of the historical moment. The column, inscribed with text and topped with a heraldic lion, is a formal emblem, while the city, encircled by fortifications, appears as a network of lines and shapes, each form contributing to the overarching sense of containment and power. The arrangement creates a semiotic interplay, inviting us to consider how power is symbolized and enforced through architecture and heraldry. Ultimately, the medal asks us to consider how victory is not only a physical conquest but also a symbolic one, captured in these carefully rendered forms.