Voor- en achterzijde van een penning met portretten van Filips VI en Blanche van Navarra, koning en koningin van Frankrijk 1683 - 1733

This is a drawing made by Bernard Picart, depicting a commemorative medal of King Philip VI and Blanche of Navarre. The image is rendered in pen and brown ink, a relatively direct and efficient medium, well-suited to replicating the fine details of the original coin. Medals like the one Picart depicted were themselves products of careful labor. Engraved dies had to be produced to stamp the precious metal. The use of coin imagery underscores the connection between power, artistry, and value. Coins and medals were, and still are, symbols of economic and political might, made tangible through design and production. Picart’s drawing translates the medal's inherent qualities – its metallic sheen and precise relief – into the graphic language of line and tone. While this rendering lacks the intrinsic value of the precious metal of the original coin, it carries its own worth as an artwork. Ultimately, Picart's drawing invites us to consider not just the aesthetics of the medal, but also the economic and social systems that underpin its creation and circulation. It challenges us to look beyond the traditional boundaries of art, and to recognize the value inherent in all forms of skilled production.