LVII Vtinam sic semper 1614

This engraving was created by Roemer Visscher, around the turn of the 17th century. It is a print, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, probably copper, and then transferred to paper. Look closely and you'll see that the image shows discarded weaponry in front of a town. Consider the labor that went into forging those weapons. It was all for naught, according to Visscher, who captions the image "Would that it were always thus." In other words, he longs for peace. The print medium itself is relevant here. The printing press made images and text widely available, contributing to public discourse. Visscher was part of a humanist circle in Amsterdam, using accessible means to promote ideas. His choice of printmaking democratizes his message of peace and prosperity. It’s a powerful statement against the waste of war.