Third Centenary of Rembrandt’s Birth 1906

This bronze medal was designed by Georg Sturm to commemorate the third centenary of Rembrandt’s birth. The imagery reflects not just Rembrandt’s person but the idea of Dutch identity. Sturm’s medal encapsulates the complexities of celebrating a historical figure. It was crafted in 1906, during a period of burgeoning national consciousness across Europe. Rembrandt, by this time, had become a symbol of Dutch national pride. The choice to depict Rembrandt alongside a windmill and a church anchors him firmly within the Dutch landscape, mythologizing the artist and his connection to the nation. Yet, this medal also raises questions about representation and historical memory. How do we choose to remember figures like Rembrandt, and what aspects of their identity do we emphasize or omit? It serves as a potent reminder of how art can both reflect and shape our understanding of history and national identity.