Beleg van Amsterdam, penning aan de schutters uitgereikt na het beleg Possibly 1650 - 1655

Editor: This medal, titled "Siege of Amsterdam, Medal Awarded to the militia after the Siege", dates from around 1650-1655. It's an engraving on metal, and it's held at the Rijksmuseum. The two sides have vastly different depictions. What do you see when you look at this work? Curator: The duality here is fascinating. One side presents a civic, almost heraldic image: Amsterdam’s coat of arms flanked by lions, crowned, atop what appears to be war paraphernalia. This speaks to established power, a sort of stoic resilience. But flip it over and we see something very different. Editor: The other side shows a soldier, on horseback? Curator: Exactly! A soldier, perhaps even a knight, almost romanticized. He's literally elevated above the chaos, riding a powerful steed. How does that knight compare to the symbolism of the Amsterdam coat of arms, to you? Editor: I suppose the coat of arms feels more like a collective identity, whereas the knight is… individual, more romantic, maybe even suggesting leadership and individual bravery within that collective? Curator: Precisely. Consider how medals like these function within a culture. It isn't just about commemorating an event; it's about constructing a specific memory, isn't it? Highlighting both collective strength and individual heroism. What survives is this duality between power and glory. Editor: I never thought about a medal holding so much... it's like a condensed story! Curator: Indeed. And each symbol, each image choice, contributes to a layered understanding of how Amsterdam wanted to remember—and *be* remembered—after this siege. The symbolic charge here, between communal defense and the glory of individual heroism, it’s something to keep reflecting on. Editor: Thanks! I’ll definitely look at medals differently from now on!