Curatoren der Groningse hogeschool, penning uitgereikt aan de uitgetrokken studenten 1831

Editor: This is a bronze relief sculpture from 1831 by David van der Kellen, titled *Curatoren der Groningse hogeschool, penning uitgereikt aan de uitgetrokken studenten*, or *Curators of the Groningen University, a medal awarded to the students who withdrew*. It shows a regal lion on one side and a wreath with inscribed text on the other. It's smaller than I expected. How would you interpret the meaning behind this medal? Curator: This piece exists within a complex historical framework, charged with sociopolitical tensions. We need to remember that 1831 was a period of immense political upheaval in Europe and of ongoing tensions in the Netherlands following the secession of Belgium. What do you notice about the inscription on the reverse of the medal? Editor: I see “PATRIA DEFENSORIBUS," meaning “Defenders of the Fatherland." Curator: Exactly. Awarding a medal during such a turbulent time signifies more than simple recognition; it speaks to the crucial role students played, implicitly or explicitly, in upholding the nation-state. The lion, a classic symbol of Dutch national identity, underscores the theme of patriotic duty, but what’s so compelling here is its use in this specific context. What do you make of it? Editor: It's like the curators are valorizing a particular kind of participation…almost like they are implying national allegiance. Curator: Precisely. How might we consider the subtle exclusions implied by such focused messaging, when class, religion and social background already played such an outsized role in society? And the phrase "uitgetrokken studenten"– what narrative does that suggest? We must ask what the historical implications are when power brokers celebrate those who withdraw. Editor: This makes me see the medal in a totally different light! Thanks! Curator: Understanding such art objects forces us to consider power dynamics, national narratives, and subtle socio-political pressures operating even within seemingly simple commemorative items.