Driehonderdjarige herdenking van het overlijden van Albrecht Durer, penning geslagen door de stad Neurenberg 1828

Curator: Here we have a bronze medal, “Driehonderdjarige herdenking van het overlijden van Albrecht Durer, penning geslagen door de stad Neurenberg”, made by Jakob Daniel Burgschmiet in 1828. What do you make of it? Editor: It feels…austere. There’s a clear Neoclassical influence in its formal rigidity. Almost like a currency, both honoring Durer and staking claim to his legacy. Curator: Exactly. Nuremberg, Durer's home city, commissioned this piece to commemorate the 300th anniversary of his death. Notice the inscription encircling Durer's profile, "Albrecht Durer Geb. 20 Maii 1471, Gest. 6 April 1528." His dates, bookending the visual. Editor: Yes, the very literal inscription, in comparison to his striking profile, draws attention. This commemorative function makes its politics explicit. How art becomes civic pride, even centuries after the artist's death. Curator: On the reverse, an inscription reading "Zu seinem Gedächtniss" meaning “In his memory.” Above the inscription is an allegorical crowned figure flanked by wings, and at the bottom a decorative leaf motif. This symbolizes Neurenberg celebrating the artistry of its famous citizen. These kinds of symbols carried emotional and cultural significance over generations. Editor: Right. That combination of local pride with historical recognition feels incredibly important, setting precedents about how places memorialize—or don't—their celebrated artists. This act of commemoration shapes the city's image, as much as Durer's art once did. Curator: And it brings us to a deeper understanding of art's enduring social role—of how artistic achievement can embody collective identity over time, through careful and selective celebration. Editor: Indeed, a simple medal, but resonant with layered meaning: remembrance, legacy, civic pride… it certainly provides a lot to reflect upon.