Kroning van Karel XI tot koning van Zweden 1675

Curator: Today we're looking at "Coronation of Charles XI as King of Sweden," an engraving made of metal dating back to 1675 by Anton Meybusch. Editor: It has such a cold and metallic feel, unsurprisingly. There’s something stoic about the profile on one side and pious about the kneeling figure on the other. The intricate details of the garments and hair are incredible, even in such a hard material. Curator: Right, metal engraving allows for extremely fine lines. Think about the socio-political purpose here: Meybusch was participating in the visual construction of royal authority. Medals like this were often distributed to commemorate important events and project power. The material itself also reinforces this, metal lending a sense of permanence. Editor: It speaks volumes about performative power. Notice how one side portrays Charles XI as an almost Greco-Roman figure with a laurel wreath. Then the other has him kneeling in prayer, being divinely appointed, and relying on God's mandate. Both are designed to evoke legitimacy. It highlights how leaders in his historical context used both classical imagery and religious messaging to uphold monarchical power. Curator: Precisely. And beyond Charles himself, think about the engraver's skill and labor, and how that’s translated into currency both symbolic and literal. Editor: And the inscription surrounding the kneeling king: “IOVEM DAT. SERVABIT HONOREM” translating from Latin into something like “Jove gives honors to whom he protects,” which reinforces this king's place in history and God's mandate over Charles XI’s divine right to rule. I do have questions about the recipients, the means of distribution, the cultural biases inherent in depicting a strong, powerful king who needs divine guidance to rule and the message that would send to the Swedish populous. Curator: Exactly. Medals aren't passive objects; they’re tools in a very material sense, meant to solidify power. Editor: A powerful lens through which to analyze political theater! The distribution of these would surely influence society’s relationship to power in all its historical dimensions. Curator: For sure, but hopefully people will question this visual message about inherited power, now more than ever. Editor: Absolutely! Art, like this medal, doesn't just reflect its time, but also helps us interrogate the present.