Verovering van Belgrado 1717

Curator: The crisp detail here is striking. "Verovering van Belgrado," or "The Conquest of Belgrade," is a metal relief created by Georg Wilhelm Vestner in 1717. Editor: It feels... commemorative. Regal. And undeniably masculine with the focus on conquest. There’s a stark formality, a self-conscious rendering of power through the imagery and its metallic composition. Curator: Absolutely. It memorializes a specific historical moment – Prince Eugene of Savoy’s capture of Belgrade from the Ottomans. It's an object intended to shape historical memory, solidifying the Habsburgs’ dominance. We must question the inherent biases in such a depiction, examining it within the power structures it aims to uphold. Who gets to write, or in this case, sculpt history? And whose stories are silenced? Editor: I’m drawn to the visual shorthand being employed. On one side, the stern profile of Charles VI, almost a classical Roman emperor, immediately communicates authority and legitimacy. It's invoking established visual language of leadership. And then on the other side, the river and fortifications of Belgrade. It’s interesting how those are reduced to essential elements, almost like symbols on a map. Curator: These aren't objective depictions, of course. It is pure Baroque propaganda, reflecting a desire for imperial self-aggrandizement. The Baroque style itself, with its grandeur and drama, was often used to legitimize rulers, projecting strength. Even the decision to produce it as a metal relief contributes to its intended permanence, echoing that visual connection to empires of the past. The choice of silver is also not neutral – it suggests worth and purity, a subtle assertion of moral right. Editor: Exactly. These symbols, the profile, the fortresses, even the material itself, resonate with collective ideas of strength, legitimacy and even piety. And as viewers, we’re participating in the encoding and decoding of this. You know, it feels cool to the touch and carries an enormous historical weight... Curator: A chilling weight when we acknowledge what conquest means. Vestner's medal invites critical thought about the political project in early 18th-century Europe. Editor: And I suppose these small symbolic objects, distributed across Europe at the time, are echoes of grand narratives. Still prompting dialogue and reflection hundreds of years later...