Spotprent op de vredesonderhandelingen met Spanje, 1632 1632

This anonymous print from 1632 at the Rijksmuseum is a satirical take on the peace negotiations with Spain during the Eighty Years' War, offering a glimpse into the political sentiments of the time. Here, we see a group gingerly stepping across a tiled floor strewn with caltraps, small metal objects designed to injure anyone who treads on them. These figures represent the key players in the peace talks. Their cautious steps suggest the delicate and dangerous nature of the negotiations. The artist highlights the ever-present threat of renewed conflict, and the figures' careful movements are rendered as a farcical dance. The fallen figure and the men actively scattering caltraps introduce a layer of betrayal and sabotage. This resonates with the broader history of conflict where the quest for peace is often undermined by hidden agendas. The angels overhead, usually symbols of peace, here seem to offer little comfort, as the scene below unfolds with such treachery. The work captures the fraught, emotional experience of negotiating peace amidst long-standing conflict, a sentiment that remains relevant even today.