Vijftigjarige viering van de onafhankelijkheid van Nederland 1863

This bronze medal, made by Moses de Vries, commemorates fifty years of Dutch independence. The imagery may seem conventional, but the date makes it intriguing. On one side, allegorical figures representing Strength, Unity, and Vigilance flank the seated figure of the Netherlands. On the other side, an angel appears to be opening a prison door to the new kingdom of the Netherlands. Note that the text references 1813 as the date of liberation. But why celebrate in 1863? The clue may be that in that year slavery was abolished in the Dutch colonies. The medal connects Dutch independence to the cause of abolitionism, using the conventional visual language of freedom to signal a progressive shift in the nation’s self-image. Understanding the medal involves understanding the political and economic history of the Netherlands, including its colonial history. Art historians consult sources such as political pamphlets, newspapers, and economic data to interpret how images like this one reflect the culture of their time.