Vrede 1772 - 1837

Curator: So, let’s look at "Vrede," an engraving from sometime between 1772 and 1837, presently housed at the Rijksmuseum. It is credited to Pietro Fontana. It is in the Neoclassical style and offers a fascinating meditation on peace. Editor: "Fascinating" is polite! It feels... chilly? All cool lines and calculated grace. Though that snake getting its stomp-on adds a touch of drama, right? Is she an angel? A goddess? The overall look, I have to admit, makes me slightly uneasy. Curator: I understand. Context is important here. We need to read it through the lens of its historical moment and the pervasive Neoclassical aesthetic. The figure is an allegorical representation of peace, very much in line with the period’s embrace of classical ideals of order and reason after periods of turmoil. Editor: Ah, right, allegory. That explains the wings and the staff – but the olive branch seems to whisper something about… appeasement? Like "we come bearing foliage but hold a rather large stick"? And is that Latin scribbled on the column behind her? Curator: Yes, there are inscriptions on the column. Also note the snake, seemingly crushed under her foot, symbolizes the defeat of discord. That is to say, the triumph of reason and harmony over chaos and conflict. The print celebrates themes highly valued in the Neoclassical period, especially concerning leadership in times of Revolution and subsequent reform. It aims for that kind of universal idea accessible beyond local conflict. Editor: Makes you wonder who designed it? Like did Fontana witness those specific chaotic conflicts or was he looking in from the calm distance? Also, I do admire Fontana's skillful draftsmanship— the drapery's intricate folds are very delicate for this method, for example. It is an impressive demonstration of artistic discipline. And I guess that chilliness reflects this distance too? Curator: Exactly. We're observing peace envisioned, codified, made accessible to wider populations beyond the elite and as an aspiration in a specific era of instability, as something to be actively worked towards, through order and through might, which adds layers to that word appeasement for me too. It highlights a moment of aspiration—almost like propaganda for ideals. Editor: Okay, I get it. A controlled vision of serenity for very messy times, brought to life in a coolly precise, slightly unsettling but also strangely beautiful print. Thanks, Fontana, I guess?