Mme Jeanne Mathilde Claude

This silver medal of Mme Jeanne Mathilde Claude was made in 1887 by Jules-Clément Chaplain, using techniques more associated with industry than art. Chaplain was a master of die-casting. The design is first cut into a hardened steel die, and then used to impress the image on a softer metal. Think of it like a glorified stamp. This allowed for the relatively quick and accurate production of a portrait, a service in high demand among the rising middle class of late 19th century France. Note the crispness of the lettering, and the delicate folds of the sitter’s dress. Silver, a relatively soft and ductile metal, takes the impression beautifully. The medal is a testament to both the skill of the artist and the power of industrial processes to capture and disseminate images. In the end, the result is a striking convergence of art, craft, and early industrial production.