Voorstudie in gips voor Rembrandt-penning 1906

This is a plaster study for a Rembrandt medal by Johan Melchior Faddegon. With its monochrome palette, what stands out is the mark making, the dimensionality of the surface. The relief is soft but determined. Look how the name 'Rembrandt' emerges from the ground, the slightly uneven lettering giving the impression of something handmade, almost wobbly, yet capturing the essence of the master. I am always interested in how the physicality of the medium shapes our experience, the plaster giving a tactile quality, a sense of something solid and lasting. It captures a moment but also embodies the weight of history. The blurred edges remind me of the work of Medardo Rosso, and that commitment to experimentation with the possibilities of sculpture. Art is a conversation across time, a back-and-forth where meanings shift and evolve. Isn't that exciting?