Chirurgijns- of Cosmus en Damianusgilde van Middelburg 1756

This undated medal commemorates the Surgeons' or Cosmas and Damian Guild of Middelburg. The medal's imagery creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations of the Dutch Republic. The skeleton holding an hourglass could reference the omnipresence of death and the limits of the surgeons' abilities. Guilds like this one shaped artistic production and reception by commissioning works, enforcing standards, and providing patronage to their members. The coat of arms could also hold clues to the historical and social context. Historians use guild records, civic documents, and period publications to understand how art reflected and influenced the social structures of its time. The Surgeons' Guild medal is a reminder that art’s meaning is always contingent on the specific social and institutional contexts in which it was produced and viewed.