Dimensions: diameter 6.8 cm, weight 1959 gr
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
This silver medal was crafted by Alfred Emile O'Hara de Nieuwerkerke to commemorate the erection of a statue for Willem I by Willem II. The medal employs a circular format, divided into two distinct sides, each carrying its own visual weight and symbolic value. One side presents a profile of Willem II, rendered with a classical precision, the contours of his face sharply defined against the smooth background. The opposite side features the statue itself, elevated on a pedestal, surrounded by inscribed text. The composition here is more complex, with the statue acting as a focal point, drawing the eye upwards. The contrast between the two sides—one a portrait, the other a scene—creates a visual dialogue. It invokes structuralist thinking by positing that meaning arises from the relationship between the medal's distinct halves. It reminds us that art does not exist in a vacuum but engages with broader cultural narratives of power, memory, and representation.
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