Vroedschapspenning van de stad 's-Hertogenbosch 1712

Curator: The metal practically whispers history. It’s fascinating to observe this Vroedschapspenning from 1712. Doesn't it just exude baroque opulence and civic pride? Editor: It’s got a weighty feel about it, doesn't it? Like a serious pronouncement set in silver. I am immediately drawn to the narrative tension on either side of this coin: one side shows us this vulnerable reclining figure against a backdrop of an industrializing cityscape. And, on the other side, what seems to be the personification of civic duty. Curator: Precisely! This commemorative piece by Theodorus Casparus van Berckel really does tell a story. On one face, we have a depiction of 's-Hertogenbosch and on the reverse, the allegorical figure, Salus Publica. She carries a sword, wears a helmet, a coat of arms... talk about sending a message. Editor: Van Berckel’s artistry situates civic authority squarely within the grand European narrative of justice and public service. The symbolism—the sword representing power and justice, and the scales, well, demanding a call for balance. But I'm also pondering the "public health" dimension inherent to "Salus Publica." Who exactly gets to benefit from this civic "health"? Which members of the public were meant to enjoy that service? Curator: I love the way you delve into those nuanced considerations. Thinking about these historical medals now, I'm just reminded about how tactile they were, how the individuals handled them. One has to wonder whether holding these precious coins encouraged them to hold themselves with dignity as stewards of a public trust. Editor: Indeed! By understanding the artwork’s place within socio-political discussions about identity, power, gender, and race, it can tell us quite a bit about social structures as well as individual aspirations in that society. The relief suggests this negotiation between personal integrity and service to one's community. I am left asking: "at whose expense?" Curator: Your analysis pushes us to go so much further. Next time I see one of these, I think that what I'm going to really dwell on is not the surface ornamentation but who these artworks benefited—and who was left out of that "Salus Publica". Editor: Exactly. And the ways these narratives are carried into our contemporary realities, subtly and not so subtly.