Prijspenning van de Vereeniging voor Vreemdelingen Verkeer te Hoorn 1907 1907

This prize medal from the ‘Association for Foreign Traffic in Hoorn,’ was made in 1907 by G. van Erp. Just imagine the artist at work, painstakingly carving into the metal. The raised surfaces of the medal create a textured landscape, a tiny world in relief. One side depicts a quaint cityscape, dominated by a tall, slender tower that pierces the sky. On the other side, there's a unicorn nestled amidst a wreath of flowers and foliage. It’s a whimsical combination of civic pride and fairytale charm. I think of the work of other sculptors and medalists. I’m curious about what they were thinking when they made it. Did the artist see themselves as a recorder of history or a creator of fantasy? Were they trying to capture the essence of Hoorn? Or were they imbuing it with their own dreams and aspirations? The medal feels like a conversation across time.