Vroedschapspenning van de stad 's-Hertogenbosch 1721

Editor: Here we have the Vroedschapspenning van de stad 's-Hertogenbosch, created in 1721 by Theodorus Casparus van Berckel. It's crafted from metal, an engraving really. Looking at it, I’m struck by how these cityscapes, although small, tell such big stories. What stories do you see within this piece? Curator: This piece speaks volumes about the urban identity and power structures of the Dutch Golden Age, and specifically post Treaty of Westphalia, since it marks the end of the Eighty Years War and begins the Dutch Golden Age. Notice how the city is depicted not just as a physical space, but also as a symbol of civic pride and governance. The imagery chosen isn’t accidental; it's a deliberate construction of how the city fathers wished to be perceived. Editor: So, the 'Vroedschap' being the city council, this coin then projects a specific image? Curator: Precisely! Consider the buildings selected for portrayal. Are these merely architectural representations, or do they signify something deeper about the city’s values and its place in the broader political landscape? Also, how does the act of minting such a medal influence notions of ownership, belonging, and even exclusion within the community? Who gets represented and remembered? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way, about exclusion. Now that I look closer, who is absent is deafening. How different is it to use this now, as a form of protest or critique? Curator: It’s all about context, isn’t it? By understanding the original intentions and contrasting them with contemporary readings, we can unearth hidden narratives and challenge dominant ideologies embedded within these seemingly benign representations of urban life. How can it, and artworks like it, encourage further analysis around themes of power, identity, and historical memory in a civic space? Editor: That's fascinating! I’ll never look at historical cityscapes the same way again. Thank you!