Leopold I en Louisa Maria, koning en koningin der Belgen, begraven in de kathedraal van Laken 1865

This bronze medal depicting Leopold I and Louisa Maria, King and Queen of the Belgians, was created by Leopold Wiener. The profiles on the front and the cathedral interior on the reverse were achieved through die-striking, a process that relies on industrial methods. Consider how the hardness of the metal influences its appearance. The incised details are crisp and precise, made possible by the pressure of the die. This process, essentially a form of industrial reproduction, allowed for multiples to be produced quickly. We should think about bronze in relationship to other sculptural materials like marble or wood. The use of bronze here suggests a move away from unique, hand-carved works and toward standardized, mechanically-produced objects. The very choice of bronze as a medium, and die-striking as a process, reflects broader social shifts towards industrialization. The medal is a testament to the power of mechanization, and its ability to disseminate images of power. By understanding the materials and processes involved, we can appreciate how this object embodies the spirit of its age.