Willem I, koning der Nederlanden 1819

Curator: Here we have Adolphe Jouvenel's rendition of Willem I, King of the Netherlands, created in 1819. It is a striking image, isn't it? Editor: Yes, there’s an austerity to it. A flat, metallic coldness…it feels distant. Like peering into a king’s frozen dream. The coin format speaks of authority and permanence. Curator: The work presents us with two circular plates. One shows a profile portrait and title surrounding Willem, with the flip side blank but textured. The material itself speaks of value, a metal, though exactly which isn't specified. It is simultaneously art and artifact. Editor: The choice of profile feels almost ancient, like Roman coins celebrating emperors. It reinforces this king's connection to long lineages of power and the supposed 'naturalness' of it all. Is the blank reverse symbolic, a statement about obscured or hidden aspects of his rule? Curator: Or maybe a simple pragmatism. It leaves room for future inscription or adaptation. Yet the very flatness and cool grey hues work against overt glorification, at least for my modern eyes. There's something so very still about the entire object. Editor: Absolutely. These portraits weren't just about likeness, but projecting the ideals of kingship. Think of the visual language of power; in many historical contexts the blank side has meaning too. In older icons or portraits sometimes you see an inscription from a sponsor for the artwork. The material choice adds to this reading. It’s cold and metallic. I like to interpret it in symbolic terms. Curator: It gives me the shivers when I think about history. Editor: I think so too! Curator: Looking at this has made me wonder more about coin design! It's own visual tradition, with such precise intent.