Rademakers-, kuipers-, draaiers- en schrijnwerkers- of Vier Ambachtengilde van 's-Hertogenbosch, gildepenning van E. van Deursen met no. 40 1664

Editor: This is a guild badge from 1664, made of metal, engraved by E. van Deursen. It depicts symbols of different trades. It feels quite utilitarian, not overtly decorative. What strikes you about it? Curator: What interests me is how this object collapses the typical art hierarchy. Here we have 'art' – an engraved medal – intimately tied to craft production and the guilds that organized labor. Look closely at the engraved symbols – a barrel, a wheel, a chair. Editor: Yes, those represent the different crafts! Curator: Exactly. Each object is not only a signifier of a specific trade and the materials it requires – wood, metal – but also speaks to the physical labor involved in its creation. Consider the skill required to shape wood into a perfectly round wheel, or the cooperation needed among these different trades. How does seeing it this way alter your understanding? Editor: It makes me think about who actually gets to participate in art making, and what counts as “art” in the first place. These artisans likely didn't see themselves as artists. Curator: Precisely. The creation of this medal by van Deursen can be considered a collaborative effort. The engraving process relies on these artisanal trades both for financial support and conceptual inspiration. Think of the medal itself as a commentary on the relationship between artistry and economic structures in 17th century Netherlands. What do you take away from examining its production? Editor: I realize that something seemingly simple like a guild badge can reveal complex networks of skill, material, and social organization. Curator: Absolutely. By examining the materials, labor, and purpose behind this badge, we gain a much richer understanding of its historical and cultural context.