Afkondiging van de Pacificatie van Gent, 1576 1782 - 1784

Simon Fokke made this print of the Announcement of the Pacification of Ghent, 1576, in the 18th century. It depicts the moment that the agreement between the rebelling provinces of the Netherlands and Spain was announced. Fokke, an accomplished engraver, creates meaning through his depiction of the built environment. We can see a gothic church and a classical building which represent the tension between religion and statehood. This agreement was made in the context of the Eighty Years' War, where the Dutch were fighting for independence from Spain, and religious tensions were high due to the Protestant Reformation. The Pacification of Ghent was a pivotal moment, showing a move towards religious tolerance. As historians, understanding the context of the Eighty Years' War, the Reformation, and the political landscape of the Netherlands at the time will help understand the relevance and impact of this relatively small but significant print. By using primary sources, archives, and historical texts we can learn about the relationship between art, politics and society.