Eed van Leopold van Saksen-Coburg op de constitutie 1831

Curator: At first glance, I see an object that’s designed for broad circulation, but carrying enormous symbolic weight. A coin or medallion, perhaps? Editor: Indeed. What we have here is an engraving, a metal print, titled “Oath of Leopold of Saxe-Coburg to the Constitution.” It commemorates a pivotal moment in Belgian history, dating back to 1831. The Rijksmuseum is where this token rests now. Curator: 1831, just as Belgium gained independence. The symbolic imagery seems deliberately…legalistic, doesn’t it? We’ve got hands clasped above, almost like a promise or pact, positioned over something resembling the Ten Commandments. Very striking juxtaposition. Editor: Absolutely, it is loaded with meaning. The ‘Commandments’ reference is quite astute. They stand for the Constitution. The imagery attempts to convey the legitimacy and moral grounding of Leopold’s rule and the very basis of the new Belgian state, linking the authority of the constitution with age-old, divine law. The medal serves as both record and propaganda. Curator: Propaganda implying a kind of immutable truth, of divinely sanctioned governance. But this is a state formed through revolutionary activity. Isn’t that ironic, or even a little subversive? How do you reconcile revolution with divine order? Editor: It's a careful balancing act. New nations often need to create narratives to secure public approval. Here, they link Leopold's kingship and the constitutional framework to broader ideas of order, trust, and, if we follow that religious metaphor through, almost unquestionable validity. Revolution always has to normalize itself at some stage! Curator: You’re right. I am struck by the way an object seemingly so small carries such weighty and multifaceted narratives of national identity and power. This engraving presents a particular, perhaps idealized, memory, carefully constructed for the people. It almost papers over the violence, chaos, and compromise that any revolution involves. Editor: It’s a physical embodiment of political discourse, a moment in time that seeks to freeze one singular understanding of national formation. Curator: Something that makes me appreciate all the more the complex dance between history, memory, and material culture. Thanks. Editor: Absolutely, a small token speaking volumes, encapsulating national aspirations, as well as political realities!