Stad Brugge 1828

This bronze medal, ‘Stad Brugge’, was created by Franciscus Johannes de Hondt sometime before 1862. The medal encapsulates a period of significant transformation. De Hondt, who lived through the Napoleonic era and the establishment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, likely experienced the societal shifts that followed the French Revolution. Here, a female figure is depicted. Crowned, and draped in classical garb, she is seen seated, offering a wreath. Who is she? Is she an allegorical representation of the city of Brugge? Or perhaps a symbol of liberty, or victory? The wreath she presents might signify honor, or achievement, but who is the intended recipient, and what is the significance of her gender? The creation and presentation of such a medal served to shape civic identity while reinforcing social structures. It is a reminder that public art serves not only to commemorate, but also to construct collective memory and identity.