XVIIIe Interparlementaire Vredesconferentie Den Haag, 1913 1913

Jacob Jan van Goor made this medal in 1913 to commemorate the XVIII Interparliamentary Peace Conference in The Hague. Look at the Queen's profile, so serene and calm as if she were frozen in time! It’s all very official and very Dutch. This piece feels like a snapshot of a precise moment in history, a time capsule of a world on the brink of massive change. I wonder what was going through Van Goor’s mind as he was creating this? As a visual artist I know the importance of historical context and the artist’s individual perspective when looking at a piece of art. Van Goor and other artists are in constant conversation through their art. It’s like they are saying: “Hey, I see you! I get what you’re trying to do.” It’s about artists inspiring each other’s creativity. And isn't it cool that there is so much to see in something so small?