Gemaskerde optocht, ter ere van de 265e stichtingsdag van de Universiteit van Leiden 1840

Editor: So this object is a metal engraving, a commemorative medal titled *Gemaskerde optocht, ter ere van de 265e stichtingsdag van de Universiteit van Leiden*, celebrating the 265th anniversary of Leiden University. It was created anonymously in 1840. I am intrigued by the visual language employed here: Coats of arms and the face in the center speak to both legacy and, perhaps, a watchful gaze? How do you read those images? Curator: Absolutely. Think of it as a visual memory, carefully curated. These aren't just pretty pictures; they're symbols steeped in history and meaning. Coats of arms act like family crests for institutions; they're about establishing legitimacy and lineage. And that central face? Perhaps it's a symbolic representation of wisdom, a guardian watching over the university's legacy. Do you think the face reflects a particular expression, an emotional register? Editor: That’s an interesting consideration. It seems stoic, or neutral – an enduring but almost detached presence. Curator: Precisely. That emotional neutrality is key. Unlike religious icons designed to evoke devotion, these symbols are about establishing the university as an institution of rational thought and lasting value. Think about what other symbols might be consciously *excluded*. What do *those* absences communicate, too? Editor: That makes sense. So, it’s not just about what’s there, but also what’s *not* there. Learning to ‘read’ absence opens a new way of approaching symbols, too. Curator: Exactly. Understanding the history of the symbols illuminates not only what it was, but also helps reveal how the University perceived its role and presence at that moment in time, what it wanted to remember.