Onwetendheid verhult dat de vrede slechts schijn is 1604

Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert created this engraving called 'Ignorance conceals that peace is only illusion', a print which is held in the Rijksmuseum. It was made during a period of immense religious and political upheaval in the Netherlands. Coornhert explores the duplicitous nature of peace, hinting that ignorance allows false peace to thrive. The figure of 'false peace' lies reclined, seemingly at rest. However, her elevated platform conceals violence beneath: dangling limbs, weapons, and tools of torture. This contrast reveals how superficially imposed peace can mask underlying oppression. The print invites us to question who benefits from this so-called peace, and at whose expense. What does it mean to turn a blind eye to injustice in the name of peace? The work serves as a reminder that true peace requires vigilance, justice, and awareness of hidden inequalities. It asks us to examine the uncomfortable truths that might be obscured by the illusion of tranquility.