Huwelijk van Lodewijk XIV en Maria Theresia, koning en koningin van Frankrijk 1661

Editor: Here we have a metal print from 1661, titled "Huwelijk van Lodewijk XIV en Maria Theresia, koning en koningin van Frankrijk," so "The Marriage of Louis XIV and Maria Theresa, King and Queen of France." It feels incredibly formal and distant to me, just looking at these profiles. How do you interpret this work? Curator: It’s fascinating to consider this seemingly simple coin as a powerful tool of propaganda. It isn’t just about commemorating a marriage; it's about constructing a specific narrative of power and legitimacy, wouldn't you agree? What strikes me is the deliberate linking of Louis XIV and Maria Theresa to a sense of national "felicity," which you can see inscribed on the other side of the coin. How complicit is art to the agenda of politics? Editor: Propaganda... That's something I hadn’t considered with an object this small. Is it about trying to legitimizing their union, securing power, and also suggesting it's for the benefit of the French people? It’s almost manipulative! Curator: Exactly. Consider, too, that Maria Theresa was a Spanish infanta. This marriage wasn't just about love; it was a strategic alliance. So the coin serves to visually smooth over any potential political friction, to project an image of unified strength. Does this alter how we see these symbols on the artwork? Editor: Definitely! It makes me wonder how much their real experiences as individuals are suppressed within these carefully crafted images. Also, I wonder if their agency played any role at all. Curator: Precisely! These official depictions were, ultimately, about control – controlling the narrative, controlling public perception. The coin's scale belies its potency as a shaper of historical memory and sociopolitical structures. Editor: So it's not just a marriage announcement but a statement of political intent cast in metal. I’ll never look at coins the same way. Curator: And that's the power of understanding the historical context; it unlocks entirely new layers of meaning.