Vrede van Rijswijk 1697

Editor: This is the "Vrede van Rijswijk," or the Peace of Rijswijk, a metal relief created in 1697 by Jan Boskam. It’s so shiny! It's like a coin celebrating a treaty. I’m really drawn to how one side depicts this serene, almost pastoral scene, while the other shows a building with what looks like negotiations happening. What am I missing? Curator: Missing? My dear, you’ve only just begun to peel back the onion layers of this delectable Baroque bauble! It’s a pocket-sized drama, isn't it? A world of allegory squeezed into a circle! This wasn't just about celebrating peace; it was about crafting a very specific narrative. Consider the side with the figure riding the bull – that's Europa, gliding across the waves, announcing a new era, wouldn’t you say? It's classical imagery employed to give gravitas to contemporary events. Editor: Europa…that makes sense. So, the Rijswijk treaty side, then, it’s like showing the 'after' shot, of, erm, " Pax Huic Domui " – “peace to this house"? Curator: Exactly! You’ve nailed it. Notice how even the depiction of the building is idealized. It speaks of permanence, of established order. Now, imagine slipping this into your pocket after a long, arduous negotiation. It's not just a commemorative token, but a physical manifestation of hope, a potent reminder. What stories that metal could tell! Editor: That's amazing. It's incredible to think how much information and meaning could be packed into something so small and shiny! I won’t look at coins the same way again. Curator: Ah, and that, my friend, is the best outcome of art appreciation. Now you will seek history within small things!