Document bij penning A.W.L. Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer 1986

Editor: So, here we have a silver document medal from 1986. It's a portrait of A.W.L. Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer, and the level of detail is amazing! How would you interpret the significance of a piece like this? Curator: Well, beyond just being a portrait, these kinds of commemorative medals played a significant role in public life, often used to honor individuals in positions of power, to solidify their legacies within institutions, or simply for political imagery purposes. Given the timing of its creation, late 20th century, what can we consider about its intent in reflecting modern political and social values of the time? Editor: I hadn't thought about it in that context. Was there a specific historical reason why someone like A.W.L. Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer would be commemorated in this way? Curator: Examining this medal allows us to think about not just the person being honored but also about how such forms of public art reinforce and shape perceptions of power. These portrait medals are not just about the individual but also represent what a community values or wishes to remember. Who gets memorialized and why always matters, wouldn’t you say? Editor: Definitely. It's like choosing which stories get told. So looking at the medal is only one step. To really get at the meaning, we'd need to research the subject and the circumstances of the commission, and think about who paid for it and what they were hoping to achieve? Curator: Precisely! Considering the networks involved is really vital. It makes you question how commemorative practices have shifted and who controls public narratives. Editor: Thanks, I'm going to keep that in mind when I’m researching artwork moving forward!