Peace 1902

François-Joseph-Hubert Ponscarme made this "Peace" medallion in, well, we don't know exactly when, but let’s just say it's a work born from a dance with metal. Look closely, and you will see the whole thing shimmers with possibility. The metal, it's not just sitting there; it’s been coaxed and teased into these serene profiles. I’m drawn to the hair of the figure on the right, how it melts into flowers and then into the background. There is no hard line; it’s all atmosphere. Ponscarme is like a jazz musician here, taking a theme and improvising with it, letting the material guide the way. His approach reminds me of the work of Medardo Rosso, who smudged and blurred the edges of his sculptures. It’s like they’re both saying, 'Hey, life's messy, so why shouldn't art be?' I love how they let ambiguity take center stage.