Inval van de Fransen in het Rijngebied en verbreking van het twintigjarige bestand van Regensburg 1688

This silver medal was created in the Dutch Republic by Jan Smeltzing, likely around 1688. It allegorically depicts the invasion of the French into the Rhineland. This seemingly innocuous object speaks volumes about the Dutch Republic’s anxieties regarding French expansionism under Louis XIV. The medal employs powerful visual codes. On one side, a map of the Rhineland is inscribed with the words "Germania Spoliata Gallis" - Germany plundered by the French. The reverse shows a female figure representing France, triumphantly riding a chariot, while a figure representing the Holy Roman Empire cowers beneath. This wasn't merely an artistic statement; it was political propaganda. The Dutch, wary of France's growing power, used art to rally support for their cause, casting Louis XIV as a threat to European stability. Analyzing such art requires a look at pamphlets, political speeches, and diplomatic correspondence. Only then can we understand the vital role art played in shaping public opinion and influencing the course of European history.