Allegorie op de vrede van de Pyreneeën en de verloving van Lodewijk XIV met de Spaanse Infanta, 1659 1659

This engraving, created anonymously in 1659, and now held at the Rijksmuseum, allegorically celebrates the Peace of the Pyrenees and the betrothal of Louis XIV to the Spanish Infanta. This print presents us with a visual and textual narrative steeped in the political climate of 17th-century Europe. Gendered representations of peace, war, and diplomacy are central here, reflecting the era's understanding of power and negotiation. The depiction of female figures symbolizing abstract concepts invites us to consider the roles women played – or were excluded from – in shaping historical events. Moreover, the inclusion of both Latin and Dutch text points to a desire to reach a broad, multilingual audience, suggesting an effort to disseminate and legitimize this political alliance across different cultural spheres. Through its allegorical imagery and linguistic choices, the engraving offers a glimpse into the complex interplay of gender, power, and cultural identity that defined the early modern period.