40 jaar staal in Nederland 1942

This bronze medal, commemorating forty years of steel in the Netherlands, was made by Johannes Cornelis Wienecke. Looking at it, I’m really struck by the industrial aesthetic that permeates every detail. The texture of the medal is really interesting, there's a kind of rough, almost gritty feel to it that speaks to the heavy, physical processes involved in steel production. The designs on each side have a tactile quality, like low-relief sculptures. On one side, the bold lettering of 'DEMKA' seems to float. Turn the medal over and you'll see the imposing image of a steel press dominates the scene, its form softened by swirling, decorative elements. I think the execution really speaks to the time it was made in. Someone like Fernand Léger, who was obsessed with machinery and the beauty of industrial forms, would really appreciate this piece. Art, at its best, invites us to see the world in new ways, to find beauty in unexpected places.