Inwijding van het Akademiegebouw te Groningen 1850 1850

This bronze medal, commemorating the inauguration of the Academy Building in Groningen, was designed by David van der Kellen in 1850. It provides insight into the values and priorities of Dutch society at the time. The Academy Building, prominently featured on one side, symbolizes the importance of education and knowledge, while the Latin inscriptions reflect a classical, intellectual tradition. The medal also indirectly speaks to issues of social class. Access to institutions like the Academy was largely limited to the elite, reinforcing existing power structures. While the medal celebrates progress, we might also think about who was excluded from this vision of advancement. Ultimately, this medal invites us to consider how institutions shape societies, and how symbols of progress can reflect both advancement and exclusion.