Opbouwpenning 1940 1940

This bronze medal, "Opbouwpenning 1940," was made by Han Richters. The way the figure emerges from the surface, it’s like Richters is coaxing the form out of the metal. It’s about potential, the promise of form. The textures make you want to run your fingers over it, feeling the cool metal. The figure has a tool in one hand and is holding a box, like a minimalist gift from the earth. There's a tree, like it's growing out of the ground and supporting the figure. The textures catch the light in a way that feels almost alive, like the surface is breathing. It reminds me of how Medardo Rosso would talk about the way light could dissolve form. Richters, being the son of Dadaist Hans Richter, reminds me of the German artist Joseph Beuys. Both were interested in a kind of socially engaged art. Ultimately, this work embodies a spirit of hope and resilience. I'm left thinking about how art can offer different ways of experiencing the world, even in the face of great difficulty.