Erepenning van Brussel en Luik voor gemeenten die aan hun zijde streden 1830 1830

This medal was created by Adrien Hippolyte Veyrat to honor those communities that fought alongside Brussels and Liège during the Belgian Revolution of 1830. This commemorative object offers us insight into the public role of art. The medal is a token of gratitude. It is a material expression of the desire to recognize collective sacrifice and to memorialize the struggle for independence from Dutch rule. The medal's design incorporates visual codes of patriotism. We see the Belgian flag's colors in the ribbon, the inscriptions that celebrate the defense of the fatherland, and the symbolism of unity and strength. To understand this piece more fully, researchers consult archives, historical records, and collections of similar objects. By studying the medal and its context, we gain insight into the social and institutional dimensions of Belgian nation-building and the potent ways that images participate in the forging of collective identity.