Driehonderdvijftigjarige herdenking van de tocht naar Nova Zembla door Willem Barents 1944 1944

Han Rehm made this medal in 1944 to commemorate Willem Barents' voyage to Nova Zembla, though the material is not stated it has a metallic appearance. What strikes me is the obsessive detail, the repeating curves of that ruff, it's mesmerizing. It feels like a process of endless refinement. Look closely, and you will see how the light plays across the high points of Barents' face, revealing the texture of the metal. The precision and the subtle modelling—it’s as if the artist is thinking in terms of light itself, coaxing it to reveal the form. It reminds me of the work of Jan Van Eyck, who was also interested in surface and light, though Rehm takes a very different approach. Ultimately, this medal is not just a commemorative object, it’s an invitation to reflect on our relationship to history and how we choose to remember it.