Marc de Rye, markies van Varambon, landvoogd van Artois 1591

Curator: This is a medal featuring Marc de Rye, Marquis of Varambon, who served as governor of Artois. It's dated 1591, made of metal using an engraving technique. What’s your first impression? Editor: Austere. The dark metal and the somewhat damaged edges give it an air of faded glory. I wonder about its history as an object. Curator: Look closely. On one side, a hand wielding a hammer is breaking down what looks like a tower or prison. Below, the word "Securitas" is inscribed. The whole image feels laden with symbolism. Editor: Absolutely, but "securitas" for whom? We have to consider the context of 1591. This was during a time of intense conflict, part of the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. Artois, where de Rye was governor, was caught in the middle. Was this security for the elite, or for all? Curator: Interesting point. The image of the hand destroying the structure could represent liberation. I imagine the broken tower suggests a release from imprisonment, perhaps even signifying the suppression of heresy and rebellion against the established order. It carries a complex emotional weight, suggesting both hope and warning. Editor: Precisely. But this 'liberation' comes at the cost of dismantling existing power structures, or the control mechanisms within Artois. Considering Rye’s role, one can see the propaganda. Security and order are being imposed, potentially silencing dissenting voices. It certainly would serve to reinforce the social and political hierarchies of the time. Curator: I see your point. The coat of arms on the other side emphasizes the individual's power and lineage within those hierarchies. Symbols like this tend to communicate on multiple levels simultaneously. What's presented as progress is often preservation. Editor: Exactly! This object really reflects how closely linked identity, politics, and security are—or rather, how intertwined. This piece tells us about anxieties that resonate even today, about the negotiation of protection, and its unequal distributions across social landscapes. Curator: Thinking about visual language gives it a life beyond its historical moment. It reminds me how powerful images can be in shaping perception and constructing a desired reality. Editor: Yes, I walk away from this conversation thinking deeply about how little some things change in how people communicate through objects in their society.