Vijfentwitigjarig jubileum van Victor de Stuers als referendaris voor kunsten en wetenschappen 1875-1900 1900

This bronze medal was made in the Netherlands by Ludwig Jünger to celebrate Victor de Stuers’s 25 years of service as a Dutch arts and sciences official from 1875 to 1900. The medal’s imagery speaks volumes about the social and cultural values of the Dutch art world at the turn of the century. On one side, we see a profile of De Stuers himself, a man of obvious importance and influence in the cultural sector. The reverse side presents a coat of arms, evoking tradition, lineage, and established power structures. The choice of bronze as a medium further reinforces a sense of classical dignity. The medal operates within a specific institutional context. Commemorative medals like these were often commissioned by governments, organizations, or wealthy patrons to honor individuals. We might consider how the medal functions as a form of public recognition. Historians use archival research and institutional records to reveal the complex relationship between art, power, and social values. The meaning of an artwork is dependent on its social and institutional context.