Twee gedenkpenningen 1848

Editor: We're looking at "Twee gedenkpenningen," or "Two Commemorative Medals," from 1848 by Johannes Hilverdink, housed here at the Rijksmuseum. They're prints on paper. These engravings remind me of old coins. Each medallion shows an illustration. It feels formal, almost like looking at a historical document. What stands out to you when you see this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, I see them almost as little windows into Amsterdam's past! Hilverdink had such a meticulous hand. And you're right, they do have that document-like feel. Makes you want to zoom in with a magnifying glass, doesn’t it? Each one seems to tell a tiny story. Note the cityscape on one side and, on the other, allegorical figures, like whispers from history. Look at how the light plays off the buildings, too; feels almost celebratory. Makes you wonder what events were considered important enough to commemorate, doesn't it? Editor: It does make me curious. They are quite detailed. Why depict them as two linked medallions instead of separate images? Curator: Interesting thought. Maybe the artist wanted to emphasize a connection, a relationship between the events. Perhaps there’s a dialogue or tension implied between them. History is rarely a single story, after all; it’s more like a braided narrative. These two together hint at something more complex, I think. Perhaps this speaks to the way memory and events were understood in that era? Editor: That's a fascinating way to see it, almost like a diptych in medal form. Thanks for pointing out those details. Curator: My pleasure. And you know, your observation on their coin-like quality really brings out that element of history being circulated and remembered, almost like currency! Food for thought, isn't it?