Vrede van Munster, 1648 1722 - 1784

Simon Fokke created this etching titled, "Vrede van Munster, 1648" sometime between his birth in 1712 and death in 1784, referencing an event that occurred nearly a century before his birth. The print depicts the signing of the Peace of Münster, a treaty which marked the end of the Thirty Years' War and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic. This treaty was a pivotal moment in European history, solidifying the Dutch Republic’s independence and reshaping the balance of power. Fokke's detailed rendering captures the gravitas of the occasion; a group of men are gathered around a table, their gestures suggesting the solemnity and formality of the signing. Yet, we must acknowledge the limitations of Fokke’s perspective, given the lack of representation from other groups who were affected. Consider the weight of such a moment, where the stroke of a pen could redraw the map of power and identity. Here, Fokke invites us to reflect on the legacies of conflict and reconciliation, and the stories that are told—or left untold—in the making of history.