Filips II en Anna-Maria, koning en koningin van Spanje 1571

Curator: Looking at this print now, a metal work dated from 1571 and held here at the Rijksmuseum, entitled “Filips II en Anna-Maria, koning en koningin van Spanje", I'm struck by its peculiar form. It’s not a traditional print, is it? It almost resembles a damaged coin. Editor: It does, and the damage is precisely what I find intriguing. Its fragmented nature speaks volumes, almost as if reflecting a fractured or incomplete historical narrative. A tangible relic imbued with potent political implications. Curator: Exactly! This print, this medallion if you will, circulated during a time of immense socio-political tension in the Netherlands under Spanish rule. It's crucial to examine the power dynamics it represents. Philip II and Anna Maria—their images reproduced and distributed, shaping public perception. It functioned as propaganda, embedding their power. Editor: And its materiality. That distressed metal finish gives it an archaeological quality. We need to consider how subsequent generations may have engaged with these damaged tokens, repurposing them perhaps, or viewing them with suspicion. Its existence prompts an essential examination of representation, circulation, and what endures from these complex narratives. Curator: I agree wholeheartedly. The damaged edges and the central square cut out... What narratives of resistance and revolution do you think are entangled within this symbolic destruction? This speaks to me of repressed narratives finally breaking to the surface. I imagine folks taking that symbolic value in hand during revolutionary movements. Editor: A powerful image to hold and, perhaps, a burden. Curator: Exactly! Thanks for bringing fresh eyes to it. Editor: My pleasure. It reminds us that our interpretation of art and history always contains a reflection of the present moment and contemporary concerns.