Inname van Den Bosch en Wezel door Frederik Hendrik 1629

Editor: Here we have a metal print titled "Inname van Den Bosch en Wezel door Frederik Hendrik," created around 1629 by Willem Versteegh. It's a double-sided medal, and my initial impression is how detailed the reliefs are for such a small format, it’s incredibly ornate. How would you interpret this piece? Curator: Well, let’s consider the materiality first. The choice of metal, likely silver, speaks to value, both economic and symbolic. These medals were not just commemorative; they were forms of currency, rewards, and markers of social standing. Who would have commissioned or owned such a piece? Editor: Someone wealthy, definitely. Perhaps someone connected to the military campaign it depicts? Curator: Exactly. Now, think about the process of production. Creating these detailed reliefs involved skilled artisans, highly specialized labor, and significant time. What does the choice of the metal say about the relationship between art, power, and economic exchange in 17th-century Netherlands? Editor: It seems like it equates them! Like the actual physical medal has less intrinsic worth than the impact its circulation had on the owner, those receiving it, and how it reinforced hierarchy? Curator: Precisely! These weren’t simply aesthetic objects; they actively participated in social and political exchanges. The medal served as propaganda. Do you see the text? What's the implication of pairing text celebrating conquest alongside an image glorifying military prowess on precious materials? Editor: It seems like to possess it would be to show devotion or success...It's also kind of scary to think that something so pretty was so powerful at a really politically tense time. Curator: Exactly, the materials elevated those values! It wasn’t *just* the image; it was its form and function *as* a material object circulating within a very specific socio-economic context. Editor: That’s really changed how I see it. I wasn't really paying attention to what it was *made* of before.