Duinkerken versterkt en vergroot 1665 - 1680

Editor: So this is "Duinkerken versterkt en vergroot," a metal relief by Jean Dollin, dating from around 1665 to 1680. It seems like a commemorative coin or medal, maybe? There's a portrait of a man on one side and a rather dramatic scene on the other. It's pretty detailed. How do you interpret this piece? Curator: This piece functions as a powerful example of Baroque political art, intended to broadcast a very specific message about power and dominion. Who is being celebrated here, and what actions are being portrayed as praiseworthy? Consider how these medals circulated. They weren't just decorative objects; they were carefully crafted propaganda tools, distributed to elites and allies to shape perceptions and cement Louis XIV’s authority. Editor: So the portrait side would be Louis XIV, obviously, with all the elaborate hair and clothing. On the other side, it looks like a military scene, but it's hard to make out the details. Curator: Exactly. The reverse side likely depicts the fortified city of Dunkirk, a strategic port. The reclining figure could be a representation of the city surrendering, or perhaps being 'rescued'. Notice the visual language being employed: images of submission and power, legitimizing acts of conquest under the guise of liberation and reinforcing a specific historical narrative. Consider how the symbolism constructs an ideal image of Louis XIV as a benevolent and divinely ordained ruler. It’s about solidifying a particular power dynamic, a specific truth about the relation between colonizer and the colonized. Editor: That's really interesting. I hadn't thought about it in terms of propaganda before, more like a historical record. So, thinking critically, are there voices missing from this story? Curator: Absolutely. Who is not represented on this medal? Whose perspectives are deliberately silenced to uphold this narrative of triumphant, divinely ordained rule? Exploring these silences – the voices of the people of Dunkirk, their experiences of occupation and resistance – offers a more complete understanding of the complex dynamics at play during this period. Editor: That really shifts my understanding. It makes you think about whose stories are considered important and why. Curator: Precisely. And how even seemingly straightforward historical objects can reveal layers of power, control, and resistance when viewed through a critical lens.