Oorlog verjaagt de Vrede 1780 - 1782

Simon Fokke created this print, “War banishes Peace,” using etching and engraving techniques. The composition divides into distinct zones, from the turbulent sky above to the chaotic earth below, creating a stark contrast between order and disorder. Fokke uses line and form to explore the opposition between peace and war. Peace, represented by figures of leisure and the arts, is disrupted by the aggressive stance of soldiers wielding swords. Mercury flies away in the distance to represent the vanishing of commerce. The dense hatching creates a sense of darkness and turmoil which destabilizes the harmony, indicative of the period's anxieties about conflict and societal order. By using light and shadow, Fokke creates depth, which adds to the emotional and narrative complexity. This dynamic interplay of light and shadow illustrates not just a scene, but a deeper commentary on the fragile state of peace.