Vijfentwintigste verjaardag van Prinses Juliana 1934 1934

This bronze medal commemorating Princess Juliana's 25th birthday in 1934 was designed by Jacob Jan van Goor. Just imagine the artist, bent over his workbench, carefully carving into the die, translating the likeness of a young princess into metal. It makes me think about portraiture in general – the pressure of capturing someone's essence, their spirit, in a still image. Van Goor’s use of bronze gives the piece a sense of warmth and permanence, almost like a tiny, pocket-sized monument. I wonder if he was thinking about the weight of responsibility Juliana must have felt, being a princess at such a young age? You see these little marks, these tiny lines that give form to her face, her hair – each one a decision, a small act of translation. I think about the conversations and silent exchanges artists have across time. Van Goor's medal speaks to other portraits, other attempts to capture a human presence and preserve it. It’s not just about likeness, it's about feeling, about presence, and about the ongoing act of remembering.