Vijfentwintigjarig regeringsjubileum van Koningin Wilhelmina 1923 1923

This gold medal commemorating Queen Wilhelmina's 25th year in power was made in 1923 by Johannes Wienecke. Look closely, and you will see how the processes of inscribing and molding the material bring forth the image. The textures that emerge from the making are, in a way, the whole story. The surface isn't smooth or even; it's got this beautiful, raw quality, kind of like you're looking at a memory or a dream. I love how Wienecke allows the making to stay present. It's not just about the Queen’s profile, it's also about the labor, the time, and the act of creation. See the building on the reverse? I imagine a sort of idealized monument, a sort of dream palace. This piece reminds me of what Eva Hesse said about art, it should "outwit itself." And, you know, that’s what art should do - surprise us and itself. This medal does just that.