Vijftigjarig bestaan van de vereniging V.W. 1856 1856

This medal by David van der Kellen commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the V.W. association in 1856. The laurel wreath encircling the letters ‘V.W.’ is the dominant symbol here. The wreath, an ancient emblem of victory and honor, transcends time and place. We see it adorning the heads of Roman emperors, athletic champions, and even divine figures throughout history. Yet, its presence here, around the letters of an association, hints at a different kind of triumph. It’s not the glory of conquest, but the enduring success and flourishing of a collective endeavor. The motif, rooted in classical antiquity, resurfaces in various forms, from Renaissance paintings to modern-day emblems. Each time, the wreath evokes a sense of achievement, continuity, and the cyclical nature of time itself, whispering tales of past glories into the present moment. It reminds us that every new triumph is built upon the foundations of what came before.