Kamer van de ambassadeurs van de keizer en de keurvorsten in het Huis ter Nieuburch in Rijswijk, 1697 1697

This engraving by Jan van Vianen captures the ambassadors of the emperor and electors in the Huis ter Nieuburch in Rijswijk, 1697. The long table is the focal point, a stage where political theater unfolds under the guise of diplomacy. The table itself—think of it—is a potent symbol. From the Last Supper to Arthur's Round Table, it has appeared across art history as a place of coming together, of sharing, but also of potential conflict. Here, it’s a space where negotiations are conducted, yet the formality and rigidity of the setting hint at the tensions beneath the surface. In earlier Roman imagery, similar scenes of senatorial gatherings conveyed power, and those messages still resonate here. This echoes how forms persist in our collective memory, resurfacing in different guises across centuries. Consider the emotional impact of the scene: The composition evokes a sense of hushed anticipation. The men are frozen, caught in a moment of profound consequence.