De voorspoed die de vrede de Nederlanden brengen zal, 1608 1608

Pieter Serwouters created this etching titled 'The prosperity that peace will bring to the Netherlands' around 1608. The detailed composition invites us to reflect on the structures of society and its desires for prosperity and peace. Note how the composition is divided, with figures densely packed in the foreground, slowly dispersing toward an open landscape in the background. The foreground presents a structured arrangement of societal figures, while the background introduces a dreamlike, pastoral vision. The symmetry established by the fountain at the center, topped with a statue, provides a focal point, drawing our eyes upwards. This carefully designed composition uses both symmetry and asymmetry to represent an idealised vision of peace and prosperity. It reflects a semiotic system that uses visual signs—such as specific figures and their placement—to convey complex political and social messages. The artist is not just creating an image, but encoding a narrative about the desired future of the Netherlands, inviting the viewer to decode and engage with its underlying message.