Rust te Middelburg hersteld 1704

This silver medal, commemorating the restoration of Middelburg, was crafted by Jacob van Dishoecke. Note the medal's circular format. This shape imposes a structure that encourages viewers to consider its two sides as distinct but related fields of meaning. On one side, observe the figure of a classical warrior standing triumphantly over a fallen figure, with Pegasus in the background. This is mirrored on the reverse by a regal figure seated before a detailed architectural rendering, backed by a crowd. The linear precision in the engraving is remarkable. Dishoecke skillfully uses line and composition to articulate themes of victory and restoration. These symbolic representations are not merely illustrative. They engage with deeper questions about power, civic identity, and the narrative construction of historical events. Consider how Dishoecke's structural arrangement prompts a reading of history as cyclical or dialectical. The medal challenges us to reflect on how societies construct and remember their past, continually reshaping collective identity.