Timmerliedengilde van Amsterdam, gildepenning van Hendrik Haagen, overman en deken 1729 - 1769

Editor: So, here we have the 'Timmerliedengilde van Amsterdam, gildepenning van Hendrik Haagen, overman en deken,' a metal guild medal from between 1729 and 1769. It strikes me as quite dense with symbolism, and the relief is surprisingly detailed for something so small. What leaps out at you when you look at it? Curator: Well, beyond the exquisite detail – it’s like holding a tiny world in your hand, isn’t it? What intrigues me is the duality presented. One side features this proud guild coat of arms, lions rampant, declaring its earthly power, its dominion in Amsterdam's carpentry world. The other side…do you notice it? A tender depiction of the Flight into Egypt. How wonderfully peculiar! Editor: You're right, the religious scene is such a contrast! What do you make of that juxtaposition? Curator: It whispers of the duality of life in the Baroque era – the material ambition alongside spiritual contemplation. This isn't merely a badge of honor for Hendrik Haagen; it's a reminder, perhaps, of a deeper moral compass. Building homes and also building…faith. One hand hammers, the other prays. What story do you imagine it tells about Haagen? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, seeing him both as a master craftsman and someone concerned with their faith and morality. So much in something so small! Curator: Exactly! It’s a miniature theatre of earthly ambition and heavenly reflection all in one, like life! Editor: I see so much more now. I guess that's the beauty of looking closely at art, isn't it? There are stories within stories.