Slag bij Doggersbank 1781

Editor: This is the silver medal "Slag bij Doggersbank," or Battle of Dogger Bank, made in 1781 by Johan George Holtzhey. It looks quite detailed. The imagery feels very triumphant, but I'm curious how it reflects the true nature of the event. What stands out to you? Curator: As a materialist, I immediately consider the significance of this battle being commemorated in precious metal. Medals like this were often distributed to commemorate events and promote a certain understanding of them. Who do you think received them, and what power did that give them? Editor: Well, based on the imagery and the implied victory, probably those who commissioned them – perhaps high-ranking officials or wealthy patrons connected to the navy? Almost like propaganda? Curator: Exactly! Consider the medal itself as a manufactured object, intended for circulation. It represents not just the battle, but also the political will and economic resources needed to create and distribute it. How does that change your perspective of "triumph"? Editor: It feels less straightforward. The material itself—silver, likely owned and controlled by a small elite—becomes part of the narrative. The medal seems less about the battle's reality and more about shaping its legacy by those who had access to it. Curator: Precisely. Think about the labor involved in mining, refining, and engraving the silver. It reflects a complex network of production, and control used for political aims. What did it really mean for the working people who would likely never even own something like this? Editor: So, by looking at the materiality, we can unpack a much wider commentary on power and society at the time. Curator: Precisely. It invites us to critically examine whose story is being told, how, and through what means of production and distribution.