Twee penningen ter ere van burgemeester Pieter van der Werff, 1604 1700 - 1749

This 17th-century print features two commemorative medallions honoring Mayor Pieter van der Werff. The composition is structured around four circular medallions arranged in a square. Each medallion contains detailed engravings: two depicting the mayor's bust in profile, and two inscribed with Dutch text. The use of line is particularly striking. Note the fine, dense hatching that defines the contours of the face, the drapery of the clothing and the ornate flourishes of the text. The stark contrast between the dark lines and the light paper creates a strong visual effect. The circular format frames the subject while the precise inscriptions function semiotically to broadcast Van de Werff's virtues and accomplishments. In this context, the overall structured arrangement underscores the order and authority associated with civic leadership. The rigid layout and detailed inscriptions aim to fix the subject’s legacy, challenging the fluidity of memory through the formal assertion of historical record.