De vestiging van het Nederlands gezag in Indie herdacht, 1902 after 1902

This bronze medal, "De vestiging van het Nederlands gezag in Indie herdacht," was made in 1902 by Johan Melchior Faddegon. I imagine Faddegon pressing his fingers into the clay, feeling the cool, smooth surface give way to his touch. He’s wrestling with ideas of power and legacy. The lion, regal and imposing, comes into being with the pressure of his hands and is placed prominently above a small depiction of subjugated people. You can see the weight of that gesture. I am also drawn to the architectural forms barely visible in the background. Did he labor over every curve and angle, finding meaning in the process of creation? Or were these just standard colonial buildings? Artists, whether they're medalists, sculptors, or painters, are always having a conversation. Each artwork builds on what came before, responding, questioning, and pushing boundaries. Making is about inquiry, and meaning is what happens in that exchange.