Stad Leeuwarden 1836

This is a lead medal by Tjeerd Keikes, a Dutch artist who lived in the 19th century. One side shows a detailed building, while the other has an inscription. The building side is striking, with its linear precision carving out architectural details. The structure depicted has a symmetrical façade, its windows and classical pediments rendered with fine lines. Notice how this precision contrasts with the roughness of the lead. It’s as if the artist is setting up a play between the ideal form and the material's resistance. The reverse side, with its inscription, continues this theme. The letters are neatly aligned but softened by the lead's texture. Here, writing becomes an element, a pattern that interacts with light and shadow, challenging our focus between the word's meaning and its physical presence. This medal invites us to see how art engages with language and structure.