Jonkheer Johan Willem van Vredenburch en jonkvrouwe Maria Adriana van Vredenburch, geboren van der Pot 1842

Curator: This is a bronze relief medallion from 1842 by Johannes Petrus Schouberg. It commemorates Jonkheer Johan Willem van Vredenburch and Jonkvrouwe Maria Adriana van Vredenburch. Editor: Immediately, the cold, hard nature of the material speaks to me of wealth, formality, and perhaps a desire for permanence. It seems like a rigid representation of status. Curator: It is indeed about memorialization and status, capturing the likenesses of this aristocratic couple in precise detail through the relief process. Note how the materiality emphasizes their presence. Editor: Absolutely. And consider the symbolic weight of the profile portraits themselves. From ancient coinage to official portraits, the profile has always represented authority, nobility, and the unflinching gaze of power. Their averted gazes give us no access. Curator: Good point! And speaking of access, I find it intriguing how bronze, a material traditionally associated with public monuments and heroic figures, is employed here on what appears to be a private, commemorative piece. Its mass production made commemorative objects more affordable for upper middle-class individuals and organizations. Editor: True. It seems a desire to emulate the elite and embed their own family within that lineage and visual language, though with this material, it’s like a miniature monument to their self-perception. Curator: Precisely. It brings us back to how objects shape and reflect social structures. Schouberg was astute in his ability to use this material to navigate those dynamics. Editor: So while it may initially strike us as a cold, detached representation, on closer examination, this medallion actually tells us a nuanced story about how individuals and families seek to assert their position through enduring materials and potent visual symbols. Curator: Agreed. Examining this artwork through the lens of materials and representation reveals a compelling snapshot of social aspirations. Editor: A worthy piece to ponder!