Meester P.W.A. Cort van der Linden (Vereniging voor Penningkunst 1935, first medal)

Mr. P.W.A. Cort van der Linden (1846–1935) became Prime Minister of an extra-parliamentary cabinet composed of liberals and non-partisans in 1913, remaining in office throughout the entire First World War.

Universal suffrage was introduced during his administration. The elderly statesman posed several times for the Haarlem sculptor and died at the age of 89 when the medal had just been issued. In Art Deco lettering, one can read: 'Civi optime de patria merito'. Dedicated to the citizen who has served his country exceedingly well. In this portrait conception one sees the advantage of a non-professional medal maker: a medallist would never have chosen this viewpoint; a naturalistic, sharply delineated old head with a thin neck seen obliquely from above.

This viewing angle provides an impression of proximity. All attention is directed to the characteristics of the head itself; only a small rosette on the lapel recalls public service. It is a pensive head filling the circle, lovingly observed. It was designed on a larger scale, and the reducing machine enhanced the effect through the concentration that reduction can bring. It is struck very thinly, with an animated ground in which one recognizes the sculptor who carefully designed the lettering in handsome variety.

The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as NG-C-2017-22-1; its record gives material recorded as bronze (metal); technique striking (metalworking); measurements diameter 6 cm x weight 92 g. Description translated from the museum's Dutch catalogue text; details are those of this museum object, and how far it represents a wider type has not been independently verified.