Het beëdigen van de Vrede van Munster, 1648 1665 - 1667

This print, made in 1648 by an anonymous artist, commemorates the swearing of the Peace of Munster. It’s made using the technique of etching, a printmaking process that relies on the controlled corrosion of metal. The artist would have coated a copper plate with a waxy ground, scratched an image into it with a needle, then bathed the plate in acid. The incised lines would then hold ink, which could be transferred to paper. Etching was a relatively new technology at this time, prized for its capacity to capture fine detail. It allowed prints to be made and distributed widely, which is very much the point here. In this image, the artist meticulously captures the dignitaries and the rich interior where the Peace was ratified. The medium of printmaking itself becomes a form of diplomacy – making the image, and thus the idea of peace, go viral, as we might say today. Ultimately, the significance of this artwork extends beyond its aesthetic qualities. It serves as a reminder of how materials and making processes can be deeply intertwined with political and cultural moments, blurring the lines between art, craft, and social history.