Verdrag van Karlowitz tussen de keizer, Polen, Rusland, Venetië en Turkije 1699

Curator: This metal engraving by Christian Wermuth, dated 1699, commemorates the Treaty of Karlowitz between the Holy Roman Emperor, Poland, Russia, Venice, and Turkey. What are your immediate impressions? Editor: It strikes me as quite severe. The silvery monochrome, the crisp lines… it evokes a sense of stern authority and solemn agreement. Almost cold in its presentation. Curator: Precisely. The composition employs a balanced geometry—on one side, a detailed portrait, and on the other, architectural forms dominate. Observe how the incised lines create distinct tonal contrasts. It adheres quite closely to the formal tenets of Baroque classicism, despite the diminutiveness of the piece. Editor: Beyond its formal qualities, consider what's depicted. We see a regal portrait wreathed in laurel, balanced by a building of imposing, classical style on the reverse, clearly the structure in Karlowitz, and, around the border, lettering to confirm it is about the treaty. It is symbolic of power and permanence, signaling an intended shift from conflict to lasting peace. Curator: A calculated projection, no doubt. The coin as a tool of propaganda, a formalised promise in metal. The portrait, quite specifically, presents a carefully cultivated image of imperial power. The precise detailing, for example in the hair, functions to demonstrate technical skill as well as a clear hierarchy. Editor: Indeed. And peace, symbolised through architecture, acts as a container for order, a boundary, very similar to the physical edge of the coin, offering both literal and metaphorical closure to conflict. A hopeful emblem, but presented with rigid control. Curator: Exactly! That inherent tension between the celebratory symbolism and the medium's restrictive formalism renders this work especially compelling, I think. Editor: I agree. Seeing the event distilled down to such stark geometry highlights the contrast between its historical impact and its rather austere representation here. A curious dichotomy to ponder.