Antoine Ferdinand de Brouckhoven, drieenveertigste intendant van de vaart van Brussel 1668

This bronze medal, celebrating Antoine Ferdinand de Brouckhoven, was struck in 1668 by an anonymous artist. Its imagery and making offer insight into the economic and political structures of the time. The medal’s creation involved skilled metalworking, likely using techniques like casting and engraving. The designs would have been carefully incised into a die, from which the medals were then stamped. The crispness of the images speaks to the expertise of the maker, but also to the industrial processes that facilitated their reproduction, and thus the dissemination of political messaging. The choice of bronze, a durable yet relatively common metal, speaks to the medal's function as a widely distributed symbol of civic pride. Note that the medal commemorates Brouckhoven's role as the intendant of the Brussels canal. This seemingly simple object embodies a complex interplay of art, industry, and political power. It reminds us that even the most functional objects can carry significant cultural meaning, challenging any rigid boundary between art and craft.