Voor- en achterzijde van een penning met portret van Hendrik II, ter gelegenheid van het beleg van Metz 1683 - 1733

Curator: Look at this curious print, created by Bernard Picart sometime between 1683 and 1733. It's titled "Voor- en achterzijde van een penning met portret van Hendrik II, ter gelegenheid van het beleg van Metz," which translates to "front and back of a coin with portrait of Henry II, on the occasion of the siege of Metz." Editor: My initial reaction is… understated power. The simplicity of the ink drawing, the delicate lines forming the king’s portrait—it all whispers rather than shouts royalty, doesn't it? Curator: Absolutely. What's fascinating here is the commemorative nature of these types of prints. Think of it as propaganda art—carefully crafted imagery designed to sway public opinion in a particular direction during times of conflict. Metz, a strategically important city, endured several sieges, and images like this one played a part in shaping the narrative. Editor: And a slightly romanticized narrative at that. Henry II looks awfully stoic, awfully…clean. Is that meant to distract from the, shall we say, less than sanitary conditions of a prolonged siege? I love the detail of his royal garb! It feels opulent but restrained, much like this pen itself, doesn't it? Curator: Precisely. The reverse side of the coin design contains a crest, which further reinforces the themes of power and legacy. And consider the intended audience: these weren’t mass-produced images for everyone. This print, as it's presented, may be part of a book of compiled imagery, so it was designed to impress collectors or a specific segment of society. These images were investments into power, a long game, one of self perception for a population that viewed the monarchy with interest. Editor: It is clever, really. A small object promising an eternity of reputation. I'm intrigued how Picart’s technique, his clean and academic lines, lends itself to both commemorating a specific event and projecting a timeless image of kingship. Curator: Well, considering its journey through the ages, and into our collection, this carefully crafted print is definitely doing something right! Editor: It speaks to our need to create symbolic artifacts, I think, turning military events into art and icons into conversation. Good show, little print. Good show.