Verheffing van de prins van Oranje tot stadhouder en erfstadhouder van Holland en West-Friesland 1747

Editor: Here we have "Verheffing van de prins van Oranje tot stadhouder en erfstadhouder van Holland en West-Friesland," a metal sculpture by Gerrit Marshoorn, created in 1747. It has a really interesting sheen and detailed relief. What stands out to you about it? Curator: This piece compels us to consider the means and context of its production. Medals like these were often commissioned to solidify political power. Who was involved in the minting process? What socio-economic class would have been consuming or using these objects? The labor involved and the material used speak volumes. Editor: That’s a great point. I was so focused on the portrait itself. The material, being metal, must have had significance beyond just being a durable substance. Curator: Exactly! The choice of metal suggests permanence, wealth, and power. It moves beyond just portraying the Prince; it aims to materially embody the authority being celebrated. Think about the workshops, the skills, and resources necessary to produce something like this in 1747. Editor: So, you're suggesting we look beyond the artistry to understand the medal's significance. Curator: Precisely. How does its materiality reinforce and perpetuate certain power structures? It's not just a commemorative object; it is itself an object *of* power, isn't it? And how many of these would have been produced, and how might their dissemination affected public perceptions? Editor: It's almost like the medal itself becomes part of the propaganda machine, reflecting and solidifying that authority, literally pressing the image into the minds and pockets of the populace. It gives me a lot to think about! Curator: Indeed. The physical presence and circulation of this object – this piece of metal – were active participants in shaping and maintaining a specific social order.