Opening van de internationale tentoonstelling van industrie in het Crystal Palace te Londen, ter ere van Victoria, koningin van Groot-Britannië en Albert, prins van Saksen-Coburg-Gotha 1851

This bronze medal commemorates the opening of the international industrial exposition at the Crystal Palace in London. The artist, William Wyon, celebrates Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and their roles within the British Empire. Consider how the medal creates a visual narrative around gender and power. One side portrays the conjoined profiles of Victoria and Albert, while the reverse illustrates allegorical figures seemingly offering the world’s riches to Britannia. Representations of Britannia often appeared in contexts that sought to legitimize British imperial expansion. The medal suggests a divinely sanctioned global influence. While the Crystal Palace sought to display a celebration of progress and innovation, it obscured the exploitative practices of colonialism and industrial labor that fueled the British Empire. This piece is a potent reminder of the complexities inherent in understanding historical achievements. How does it make you reflect on the relationship between progress, power, and representation?