Overlijden van Friedrich Ernst Daniel Schleiermacher 1834

This commemorative medal was made by Karl Fischer to mark the death of Friedrich Schleiermacher. It’s a somber work, cast in bronze – a material historically associated with both commemoration and currency. The medal's creation demanded careful labor. Molten bronze would have been poured into a mold, and the design likely originated from a precisely cut die. The result captures Schleiermacher's likeness in profile, as well as an allegorical scene of mourning. Notice the weight of the metal, and the crispness of the imagery. These qualities speak to bronze's capacity to capture fine detail. Consider the social context. Medals like these circulated as keepsakes, small portable monuments accessible to a relatively wide public. They testify to the status of their subjects, and celebrate their achievements, as they transmit culture through durable materials. The act of making is deeply connected to the act of remembering. By engaging with materials, making, and historical context, we move beyond traditional definitions of art, and into a richer understanding of human expression.