Maximiliaan, aartshertog van Oostenrijk en Maria, hertogin van Bourgondie 1506

These silver portrait medallions of Maximiliaan and Maria were created by Giovanni di Candida around 1480. The metallic material, with its inherent qualities of weight and sheen, speaks to the status of the sitters. Consider how these objects would have been made: the designs would have been carved into a die and used to stamp the images onto the metal. This required immense force, highlighting the power dynamic between the artist and the material. We see here a blend of the hand-made and the mass-produced, reflective of the emerging capitalist structures of the time. The resulting objects could be widely distributed, extending the reach and impact of the royal image. The creation of these medallions involved considerable skill and labor, reminding us that even seemingly simple objects have a rich history of human effort embedded within them. Examining the materials, making, and historical context allows us to question traditional distinctions between craft and fine art, while appreciating the social and cultural meaning of the artwork.