Herstel van het Nederlands gezag over de kust van Guinea 1869-1870 1870

This bronze medal titled "Herstel van het Nederlands gezag over de kust van Guinea 1869-1870" was created by Johan Philip Menger, commemorating a Dutch military campaign. It can be read as an example of how institutions shape the production and reception of art. The medal's imagery creates meaning through visual codes of the Netherlands' colonial history. Made in the Netherlands, it reflects the country's 19th-century political ambitions in Africa. Features like the inscriptions detailing military victories and the naval imagery are crucial. These elements not only glorified Dutch power but also aimed to legitimize its presence on the Guinea coast. The medal is not merely an object of historical record; it is a statement on the social structures of its time, reinforcing a conservative viewpoint that championed colonial expansion. The Rijksmuseum has institutionalized this view. To fully understand this piece, researching Dutch colonial archives and institutional records is essential. The meaning of this medal is contingent on its historical and institutional context.