Slag bij Hanau 1813 1813

Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the intricate detail packed onto this small, circular surface. It feels heavy, somber. Editor: This is a bronze medal created in 1813, commemorating the Battle of Hanau. It's credited to Johann Thomas Stettner. Two distinct scenes are presented: one side showing three figures united, the other a fierce battle scene. Curator: The figures on the front – they remind me of an ancient oath. They have this almost naive simplicity but feel imbued with power, with the kind of camaraderie needed in times of upheaval. Editor: The symbolism is carefully considered, of course. They represent allied nations joining forces. Below them are the words "Vereint, Beharrlich, Stark" which means "United, Persistent, Strong". These ideals of national solidarity served as rallying cries in resistance movements, yet often were built upon, or resulted in, exclusionary practices. Curator: The battle scene… Chaos. It appears to convey not just a record of events, but the emotional weight of conflict itself. All those figures packed together become almost a single, writhing entity. Editor: Note the neoclassical style, evident in its clean lines and idealised forms, particularly with those figures on the obverse side. However, look how that style is somewhat subverted by the almost overwhelming, dense composition on the reverse showing that chaotic battle, far removed from any serene vision of war. Curator: Is that tension intentional, you think? The clean unity of allies contrasted against the brutal disarray of battle? It mirrors something profoundly human in us. This object holds collective memory, reminding me of trauma but also a collective yearning. Editor: Indeed. Medals such as these reinforced a very specific, very curated narrative – often obscuring the complicated realities and often dire consequences of war experienced by soldiers and civilians who were certainly not idealized or serene. Curator: Seeing them juxtaposed here, on this single object... perhaps invites us to see beyond the myth and remember. Editor: Precisely. It’s a stark reminder that historical objects are never neutral.