Tentoonstelling van Nederlandsche en koloniale nijverheid Arnhem, 1879 met bijbehorende doos 1879

This bronze medal was created by Noach van der Waals in 1879 for the ‘Exhibition of Dutch and Colonial Industry’ in Arnhem. The medal shows a Dutch woman standing beside a man of color. This medal reflects the Netherlands' colonial ambitions at the end of the 19th century. Colonial exhibitions presented a vision of Dutch supremacy and wealth extracted from overseas territories. Here, industrial progress is represented by the Dutch woman alongside a colonial subject. The medal perpetuates stereotypes and inequalities, symbolizing a power dynamic that deeply affected the lives and identities of colonized peoples. It presents an oversimplified view of both cultures, reducing complex societies to mere representations. Looking at this medal today, we are confronted with a painful history of exploitation and cultural misrepresentation. It serves as a somber reminder of the emotional and human cost of colonialism.