Joan Derk van der Capellen tot den Pol 1784 - 1787

This diminutive silver medal, of unknown date and authorship, presents a compelling study in miniature form. At just 1.8 centimeters in diameter, its scale demands close inspection. One side features a bust of Joan Derk van der Capellen tot den Pol, encircled by text and a laurel wreath, rendered with a striking contrast of light and shadow achieved through relief. Turn the medal over, and you'll observe a dog atop a pedestal, similarly framed by text. The composition on both sides is tightly contained, emphasizing the circular format and drawing the eye to the central figures. This medal destabilizes conventional notions of monumentality. While traditional portraiture often uses scale to assert power, here, the medal's intimacy suggests a more personal, perhaps even subversive, form of commemoration. The circular shape, unbroken, hints at cyclical patterns of memory and history. Ultimately, the medal challenges the viewer to reconsider how value and significance are constructed.