Opening van het Kanaal van Terneuzen naar Gent 1827 1827

Joseph-Pierre Braemt created this bronze medal to commemorate the opening of the canal from Terneuzen to Ghent in 1827, a waterway which aimed to enhance trade and connect communities. The medal embodies early 19th-century ideals of progress and prosperity, but also reflects the complex interplay of power and representation. On one side, we see a portrait of King William I, symbolizing the ruling power and his role in this infrastructural achievement. On the reverse, classical figures allude to the canal's function, with Neptune, god of the sea, towering over a reclining female figure who represents the city of Ghent. What does it mean to cast such endeavors in the light of classical mythology? And who is included, and excluded, from this vision of prosperity? What does it mean to break ground, to divert water, to reroute nature? The medal invites us to consider these questions, and to reflect on the human cost and environmental impact that often accompany such grand projects.