Allegorie op het afwijzen van de vredesvoorstellen gedaan door Peckius namens de Spaanse koning, 1621 1624 - 1626

This 17th-century etching by Daniël van den Bremden, titled “Allegorie op het afwijzen van de vredesvoorstellen gedaan door Peckius namens de Spaanse koning,” is a satirical depiction of the failed peace negotiations between the Dutch Republic and Spain. The print uses allegory to criticize the Spanish king’s peace proposals, symbolized by a severed head, and the Dutch rejection of them, embodied by the figure holding a sword and olive branch. This intricate engraving, now housed at the Rijksmuseum, provides a visual commentary on the complexities of 17th-century European politics.