Inscription [reverse]

Art Historical Context

Ludwig Gies, a German sculptor and medallist the early 20th, crafted this intimate bronze medal in 1918, a pivotal year marking the end of War I. Titled *Inscription [reverse] it captures the reverse side of a-scale sculptural work, with a diameter of just 5.22 cm (about 2 inches) and a gross weight of 35.1 grams. Housed in the National Gallery of Art Department of Coins, Sculptures, and Medals, this piece was generously gifted by Dr. Stephen. and Janie Woo Scher. Bronze, a durable and traditional medium for medals, allowed Gies to achieve fine detail and high relief, techniques honed in his academic training at Munich. Medals like this served as portable memorials or commemorative objects, blending sculpture's three-dimensionality with the precision of engraving. Created amid post-war reflection, it exemplifies the era's shift toward introspective designs, often bearing inscriptions that evoke remembrance or historical commentary. Though modest in size, Gies's work highlights the medal's cultural role as a "pocket sculpture," bridging personal devotion and public history. Visitors will appreciate its tactile heft and subtle patina, inviting close examination of its enigmatic inscription against the backdrop of a world forever changed.