Geboorte en overlijden van de dochter van Willem IV en Anna van Hannover 1736

This silver medal, made by Nicolaas van Swinderen, commemorates the birth and death of the daughter of Willem IV and Anna van Hannover. The circular form is bisected by two distinct images, each meticulously detailed in relief. The gleaming surface catches light, emphasizing the contrasting textures and finely engraved details. On one side, a classical figure cradles a newborn, symbolizing hope and new beginnings. The opposite side depicts a complex heraldic crest, signifying lineage and power. The contrast between the maternal scene and the formal crest is striking. The medal's form becomes a semiotic device, its circular shape echoing cycles of life. The very structure of this medal – the arrangement of its imagery and the deliberate play of light and shadow – serves not merely as a commemorative object, but as a meditation on the transient nature of existence and the enduring power of lineage. Its dual images force a dialogue between personal loss and dynastic continuity.