Oprichting van het ruiterstandbeeld van Willem van Oranje in Den Haag 1845 1845

Editor: This is “Oprichting van het ruiterstandbeeld van Willem van Oranje in Den Haag 1845” created in 1845 by C. Bouvet. It's an engraving on metal—bronze I think. It depicts the erection of a statue. What strikes me is how formal and official it all feels, even in this small format. What do you make of it? Curator: Indeed! It's like history pressed into a coin, isn’t it? To me, it speaks of the ambition to capture a moment of civic pride and monumentalize it. Consider the choice of bronze; so durable, so… official. What stories might this object tell about nation-building? Editor: Nation-building as symbolic action. So, it's not just a record, it's active. I hadn't considered that. Is there anything particularly Dutch about this depiction? Curator: Hmm, good question. Think about Willem van Oranje himself – a figure central to Dutch identity, resisting foreign power, becoming a symbol of independence. How might his image resonate differently here versus, say, in Spain or France? Editor: Ah, I see. So the meaning is tied to a very specific context. Also, I noticed it has both the profile and the statue depicted. Curator: The coin acting like a symbol of power. It shows him, then shows his legacy made in a grand piece. Editor: That really changes how I look at it. It's more than just commemorative. It's making a statement. Curator: Precisely! And in that statement lies the power of art, even on something as small as a coin. Editor: I’ll definitely look closer at other commemorative pieces from this period. Curator: It will certainly enlighten you further to their social context!