Gustaaf Willem, baron van Imhoff, gouverneur-generaal van Nederlands-Indië vertrekt uit Amsterdam

About this artwork

diameter 7,7 cm x gewicht 139,61 gr

Art Historical Context

**Gustaaf Willem, van Imhoff, Governor of the Dutch East Indiesarts from Amsterdam** Martinus Holtzhey, 1742* *Struck medal: diameter 7.7 cm, weight 139.61 g* This finely crafted struck medal by Dutch engraver Martinus Holhey commemorates a pivotal moment in colonial history: the 1742 departure of Gaf Willem, Baron van Imhoff, from Amsterdam as he sailed to assume his role as Governor-General of Nederlands-Indië (modern-day Indonesia). At just 7.7 cm in diameter and weighing 139.61 grams, this portable silver or base metal piece captures the grandeur of Dutch maritime ambition during the height of the VOC (Dutch East India Company) era. Holtzhey, a master of 18th-century medal art, employed the striking technique—hammering a die into softened metal—to achieve sharp, intricate details likely depicting van Imhoff's portrait, a departing ship, or emblematic motifs of voyage and authority. Such medals were prized as portable propaganda, celebrating imperial figures and fostering national pride among Europe's trading elite. Van Imhoff's tenure (1743–1750) marked reforms in the struggling VOC colonies, underscoring the medal's role in Dutch cultural memory. Today, it offers a tangible glimpse into the interconnected worlds of Enlightenment Europe and global empire-building.