Speaker
Description
Contemporary medals provide an artistic commentary on perspectives on history and culture. Topics range from global phenomena to subjective emotions. As such, contemporary medallic art has great potential as a source for several disciplines. Next to numismatic expertise the study of medals requires knowledge of social, political, and cultural spheres as well as historical events.
From the time of its inception the Münzkabinett in Berlin has maintained its role of a centre of research on medallic art. The German Society of Medallic Art and the Gitta-Kastner-Research-Foundation (as an institution of the Numismatic Committee of the Federal States of Germany) support research on medallists and their work. A major focus is placed on assessing art medals in a digital environment.
The aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly, it will provide an overview of current research projects. Secondly, it attempts to contextualize German research structures on medallic art in a more global perspective.
