Overlijden van Felix de Merode, minister van Staat te Brussel 1857

This bronze medal, commemorating the death of Felix de Merode, was created by Alexandre Georges Geefs. The medal's circular form lends itself to the commemorative function, suggesting wholeness and unity. The profile of de Merode, rendered in meticulous detail, occupies the left side, its sharp lines and classical Roman style a stark contrast with the dense text on the right. This juxtaposition creates a visual dichotomy, emphasizing the tension between the individual and the collective memory. The medal’s relief structure—the way the image projects from the surface—invites tactile engagement, while the inscriptions act as a form of visual encoding, referencing political and social values. The interplay between image and text offers a means through which to decode the cultural and historical significance. The medal functions as a material object and as a symbolic form, embodying cultural memory. This tension between form and content encapsulates its enduring ability to convey historical meanings and cultural values.