Driehonderdjarige herdenking van het overlijden van Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft 1947 1947

This is a bronze medal commemorating the 300th anniversary of Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft's death, made by Joop Hekman in 1947. I love how this object feels both old and new. A conversation across centuries, like whispers in a hall of mirrors. I imagine Hekman in his studio, carefully planning the composition on the small round. Perhaps he felt a connection to Hooft, another artist wrestling with the weight of history and the desire to create something lasting? The portrait is so delicate, almost like a ghost emerging from the metal. I’m drawn to the tactile quality, the way the light plays across the surface. Each mark, each line is a deliberate act of remembrance. Artists, like Hekman, are constantly engaging with the past, reinterpreting and reimagining the stories that came before. It’s like a big, messy conversation that never ends. And we, as viewers, are invited to join in, bringing our own experiences and perspectives to the mix.