Internationale tentoonstelling tot bevordering der fotografie Amsterdam 1891 1891

Editor: Here we have a commemorative medal from the Internationale tentoonstelling tot bevordering der fotografie Amsterdam 1891, made by C.J. Begeer. It’s quite tarnished, isn’t it? The relief looks so delicate, and the laurel wreath on the back seems a bit ironic given its discolored state. What can you tell us about this work? Curator: It speaks volumes, doesn't it? A small, solid artifact whispering stories of a grand event. Think of Amsterdam in 1891 – photography was still quite novel! This medal embodies a time of rapid technological advancement, captured in miniature, and yet it transcends simple commemoration. It is about the *act* of celebrating the possibilities of photography. How ephemeral is a photograph and how can a medal make the moment so solid? Look at the crown topping the shield, do you think it refers only to the monarchy? Or does it symbolize a royal reception for a new era? Editor: That's an interesting point. I had just taken the crown at face value. Now I'm wondering about the choice of Amsterdam's coat of arms - the three crosses. Do you see them as representing a connection to the city's heritage, or maybe something else? Curator: It is certainly a statement of location. But consider the St. Andrew's crosses. They can represent protection against fire, flood, and disease. What better imagery for a new and unknown medium? Also, it's an amazing example of how graphic design principles—simplicity, repetition, symbolism—can be applied even to objects with very specific historical purposes. This object creates poetry through function. Editor: That really makes you think. I initially dismissed it as just an old medal, but it encapsulates a real sense of innovation. Curator: Precisely. It takes something like this—a small piece, easily overlooked—to remind us how much meaning objects can hold, and how art and history are woven together so completely. Now, what exhibition today would *you* mint a coin for?