Penning ter gelegenheid van een tentoonstelling te Parijs 1867 - 1869

This is a commemorative medal for an exhibition in Paris, made by Isaac Weissenbruch. While modest in scale, its intricate design offers a rich semiotic landscape. The circular composition immediately suggests unity and completeness, framing a central tableau supported by two winged figures. Their classical rendering, along with the laurel wreath above, evokes a sense of timeless achievement. The figures carry what appears to be a blank canvas, presenting a void that invites interpretation—a space perhaps for future creations and ideas. The eagle below, a symbol of power and vision, grounds the ethereal quality of the figures. The inscription that rings the design acts as a border but also as a critical element, anchoring the imagery to a specific historical context. The visual elements, finely etched, create a balance between the symbolic and the material, between the representation of ideals and the concrete reality of the exhibition it commemorates.