Overwinning van Lodewijk Willem, markgraaf van Baden op de Schellenberg bij Donauwerth 1704

Curator: Well, that's certainly something. It appears we're looking at a commemorative medal. Specifically, it celebrates the "Victory of Louis William, Margrave of Baden, at Schellenberg near Donauwörth." It was created in 1704. Editor: My first thought is the stark contrast. One side features this rather severe portrait, almost a bit frosty. And then you flip it, and it’s like this teeming landscape, battle, or... a symbolic offering, perhaps? It's busy. Curator: Indeed. Its creation tells us about early 18th-century society's need to immortalize their leaders' triumph on the field of battle and, importantly, their ability to mint and distribute this material as political messaging. I see its value beyond simply art— it’s Baroque propaganda, if you will, carefully planned. Editor: And look at the level of detail they achieved working with metal. The intricacy of the hair, the folds of fabric… and that bustling town on the other side! I imagine the artisanal labor involved in each individual piece was intense. Did they create molds for many pieces or were these truly unique? That process matters to understand labor history here. Curator: Undoubtedly there were molds, as such commemorative medals had some degree of circulation, even if the lower classes wouldn't own it per se. Think of its circulation throughout elite social circles, reinforcing existing hierarchies and narratives around Louis William. How power pays for reputation, so to speak. Editor: Yes, how art serves power—a reminder carved in metal for who controls both. Curator: Absolutely. It really highlights how deeply intertwined art production was, and remains, with socio-political agendas. The commissioning process alone dictates the kind of artistic labor involved and, of course, it validates the elite narrative. Editor: Well, studying the texture of authority is quite revealing. It’s prompted reflection of whose stories and materials truly mattered in its creation and afterlife. Curator: Indeed, a rather potent object.