Maatschappij tot redding van drenkelingen, penning toegekend aan G.J. Bouhuijs 1825 - 1828

This is a medal awarded to G.J. Bouhuijs by the Dutch Society for the Saving of Drowning Victims, designed by van de Goen & Co. The image shows a man rescuing someone from drowning, whilst death looms in the background. This medal, and the society that commissioned it, reflects a growing sense of civic responsibility in the Netherlands. Institutions were being formed to provide social services. What makes this object particularly interesting is the way it uses classical imagery and symbolism, echoing ancient Greek and Roman art. The figure of death with his scythe is a common trope. But we see the contemporary social values of the Dutch Republic being expressed through these traditional visual codes. To understand this medal better, we can research the history of social welfare organizations in the Netherlands, examining archival documents, and other visual representations of these institutions. This will give us a fuller understanding of the medal's role in the social fabric of its time.