Op de instelling van het Metalen Kruis 1831

Johannes Petrus Schouberg created this bronze medal, "On the Establishment of the Metal Cross," sometime around 1864. It commemorates the military campaign in Belgium of 1830-31. The medal exemplifies how power uses imagery to create meaning and shape opinion. On one side, we see William II, Prince of Orange, depicted in profile, wearing a military uniform. The inscription identifies him as commander-in-chief. The other side displays a cross surrounded by a wreath. The years 1830 and 1831 are inscribed on the cross, marking the period of military engagement. The surrounding text references the establishment of the Metal Cross in September 1864. The medal served as a token of recognition for participants in the military campaign. As such, it was meant to solidify the social order. Understanding this medal fully requires considering the political context, the role of the House of Orange, and the prevailing social attitudes of the time. Research into military records and the political discourse surrounding the campaign would provide a richer understanding of its cultural significance. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.