Eduard Jenner, uitvinder van de koepokinenting 1796

Friedrich Wilhelm Loos created this medal in the early 19th century to commemorate Edward Jenner's discovery of the smallpox vaccine. The imagery on the medal is revealing. On one side, we see a portrait of Jenner himself, hailed as the discoverer of vaccination. Turn it over, and you’ll see children dancing around a cow, with angels hovering above. Here, the imagery blends science, religion, and rural life into a powerful endorsement of vaccination. This medal suggests the central importance of institutions, science, and medicine, and it reminds us of art’s public role in promoting these institutions. To understand it better, we might delve into public health records, medical journals, and the history of vaccination campaigns. This medal underscores the power of art to shape public opinion, legitimize institutions, and reflect a society's values, all of which are shaped by a particular social and institutional context.