P.J.H. Cuypers, penning aangeboden bij de opening van het Rijksmuseum te Amsterdam in cassette 1885

Curator: This beautiful bronze relief from 1885 is a medal designed by Ludwig Jünger, commemorating the opening of the Rijksmuseum here in Amsterdam and honoring its architect, P.J.H. Cuypers. Editor: The detail is incredible; the face really commands attention. It feels quite austere, and classical, the profile cut sharply against the smooth surface. Curator: The choice of profile portrait is significant. It directly evokes classical antiquity, a style that was used for emperors, an attempt to put the architect of the national museum in that echelon of honor and respect. Note also that this presentation medal would have come in its own cassette or box, a symbol of the reverence the Dutch people held for Cuypers at that moment. Editor: There’s something almost stoic about the subject’s expression. Is that perhaps a deliberate reflection of the kind of architectural philosophy Cuypers championed, harking back to older styles like gothic revival, rooted in solid principles? Curator: Precisely! Cuypers was a leading figure in the Gothic Revival movement in the Netherlands. So, this medal can be read as not just an accolade, but also a statement affirming the value of traditional architectural styles at a time of great social change in the country. Cuypers's identity, his Catholicism and his ideas about national artistic identity all come into play. The building itself embodies those tensions. Editor: You can see how that's reflected in the lettering too; it has a solidity, each letter is clearly defined. The border almost mimics the building's facade in its details. A building designed by the man whose portrait sits at the center of the coin. The object and subject unified, with the intent to evoke national pride. Curator: A complex and potent symbol for Dutch identity! Editor: The kind of artistry and layering of context this artwork provides is fascinating.