Elisabeth Christina, weduwe van keizer Karel VI 1740

Editor: This bronze relief from 1740 by Matthäus Donner, titled "Elisabeth Christina, widow of Emperor Charles VI," really strikes me. It feels almost like two sides of a coin – literally, perhaps? What jumps out to you when you look at it? Curator: Well, that duality is indeed very present. These aren't merely two sides, but a visual echo of power and its potential challenges. The image of Elisabeth Christina, a regal profile framed by an inscription, speaks to established authority, yet, juxtaposed against it, we have the image of a rearing horse. Consider the horse – untamed, energetic, and yet clearly reigned. What might that pairing suggest? Editor: Maybe the horse represents the territories or political forces that she’s trying to control, and she is the one trying to tame them? Or her inner strength and passion, which are controlled by her duty? Curator: Precisely. The horse has long served as a symbol of power, nobility, and even wild, untamed passions. Restrained here, it brings a subtext of managing internal or external conflict to this object of political propaganda. It creates an intricate narrative within a small compass. How do you feel about the inscriptions surrounding each scene? Editor: I find that having Latin phrases on artworks, especially in portraits, sort of gives an antique look and grandeur to the artwork. A little like a noble seal. Curator: It definitely solidifies its message, creating a sense of continuity and tradition and speaking to a learned audience. Looking at this medal, we see that imagery was chosen not merely for aesthetic reasons, but as a sophisticated language, layering meanings across time. Editor: I hadn’t thought of the imagery as a ‘language’ itself. I'll definitely look at artworks differently now! Curator: Symbols are doors that allow us to engage with cultural memories that still reverberate today. A potent message in the palm of your hand, wasn’t it?