Officiële proclamatie van de Vrede van Westminster, 15 april 1654 1654

This is the 'Official Proclamation of the Peace of Westminster', printed on the 15th of April, 1654, using ink on paper. The anonymous artist has structured the proclamation in a hierarchy, using a composition that marries textual density with symbolic imagery. Notice the distribution of elements: the heraldic crest sits prominently at the top, visually anchoring the document with symbols of power. The large initial 'H' which begins the text, is not merely decorative, but acts as a visual gateway, inviting the reader into the detailed legal jargon that follows. The layout uses dense blocks of text, organized to convey authority. The design choices here reflect a society grappling with ideas of governance and representation in a time of political change. Through its visual language, the document aims to stabilize its message in the semiotic landscape of its time.