Verdediging van Brussel, penning door de stad uitgereikt aan de gewapende burgerij 1815

Curator: Looking at this medal, the word that comes to mind is ‘understated heroism’. The city of Brussels awarded it to armed citizens back in 1815, presumably for some form of civic defense. Editor: The quiet dignity definitely gets through, doesn't it? Bronze and circular, it looks like a sun about two inches across. It is unpretentious, despite the latent power of what it signifies. Curator: Indeed. Consider that medals like this are so interesting because they try to capture complex sociopolitical realities within very circumscribed physical forms. This medal, rendered in bronze with finely engraved details, attempts exactly that. Notice the relief, which places symbolic emphasis on a shield at its center. Editor: And that shield bears imagery reminiscent of ancient heraldry! An angel hovers protectively, wings spread. It really aims for a sense of timeless endorsement, wouldn’t you say? Curator: Absolutely. The inscription around the edge—"SIGNA.SEO.DETUS.CURIS.OR.ASSET.U.N.GEBUR.N.SECUR"—is a little hard to make out, but adds to the effect. On the reverse side of the medal, encircling floral motifs act almost like a frame for more text praising William of Nassau. Editor: The very form recalls old coinage, instantly creating an echo of permanence and authority. What really grabs me, though, is thinking about who actually clutched this token. A shopkeeper? A student? This seemingly small metallic disc becomes a very personal link to revolutionary energies back then. Curator: Exactly, these artifacts provide insight into the lives of individuals swept up by the currents of great historical events. Even today, it allows us to consider public roles, civic duty, and perhaps even, question the use of imagery within political and social settings. Editor: Spot on. It brings to mind just how deliberately art can both represent and construct cultural memory—in this case, shaping perceptions of who is being protected. The image persists and holds resonance across the ages. Curator: Agreed. It’s really interesting how studying an artifact like this invites us to reconsider notions of heroism, memory and symbolism. Editor: It is also exciting to ponder what those armed citizens it was given to back in 1815 were actually thinking. It's definitely made me stop and reconsider symbols and the images we use to make ourselves secure.