Aanslag van de Zweden op Kopenhagen en vrede van Kopenhagen tussen Denemarken en Zweden, ter ere van Frederik III, koning van Denemarken 1660

Editor: This metal engraving, created in 1660 by Monogrammist HIT, is titled "Aanslag van de Zweden op Kopenhagen en vrede van Kopenhagen tussen Denemarken en Zweden, ter ere van Frederik III, koning van Denemarken," or "The attack by the Swedes on Copenhagen and the peace of Copenhagen between Denmark and Sweden, in honor of Frederick III, King of Denmark." The material gives it a somber tone, very weighty. What sort of story can you decipher in this work? Curator: This medal is so much more than a historical record; it is a conscious piece of nation-building. Note the laurel wreath on Frederik's head – what does that call to mind? The image on the reverse displays potent symbolism. Can you identify the symbolism? Editor: Is that a royal crown topping what seems to be the Copenhagen coat of arms? The other is less clear... Curator: Indeed. Crowns embody not only royal authority but a divine sanction. Here, that coat of arms pierced by a weapon indicates a city both attacked and defended. Medals were instruments to solidify narratives, and perpetuate the glory of a monarch. Note the inscriptions, almost as crucial as the emblems. Words reinforce the images to create a desired memory of events. How do the visual symbols enhance the inscription's narrative of the peace? Editor: That’s fascinating. It seems that these combined images work almost like a visual shorthand to celebrate the monarch and evoke national pride, which is pretty brilliant. Curator: Precisely. Visual memory plays such a crucial role in cultural identity. This piece offers a study in image-making. What this engraver tried to preserve and what that communicates today are two different, but linked, pieces of history. Editor: I agree. This has given me a deeper appreciation of how art functions not just as reflection, but also as active participant in the construction of historical memory.