Verdrag van Passau, ter ere van Karel V, Duits keizer 1552

This bronze medal, commemorating the Treaty of Passau, presents us with two sides of a story, quite literally. The design, though diminutive, is rich in semiotic suggestion. On one face, the bust of Charles V is encircled by text, anchoring the image to a specific figure and power. The reverse features a caduceus, a symbol typically associated with commerce and negotiation, intertwined with other symbolic forms that speak to peace and agreement. Consider how the circular form itself acts as a unifying device, suggesting completeness and resolution. The medal's structure invites us to consider the relationship between portraiture and symbolism, between the individual and the abstract ideals they represent. The interplay between text and image enhances the medal's communicative function, offering a structured way to interpret the historical moment. It's a fascinating example of how form and content coalesce to convey meaning.