De begrafenis van de vrede, 1665 1665

This is a 1665 print, made anonymously, titled "The Funeral of Peace." It encapsulates the fraught social and political climate of the Dutch Republic, a nation embroiled in near-constant conflict. The image creates meaning through a complex set of visual codes. At the bottom, a funeral procession suggests the death of peace, while above, warring factions and chaotic scenes underscore the pervasive nature of conflict. Made during the Second Anglo-Dutch War, this print reflects a society grappling with the economic and social costs of war. The print’s critical stance suggests a progressive viewpoint, questioning the glorification of military power and the relentless pursuit of territorial gains. The inclusion of religious imagery indicates the significant role of religion, specifically Calvinism, in shaping the Dutch worldview. To fully understand this work, we can consult period pamphlets, political tracts, and economic data to reveal the social and institutional conditions that shaped the artist’s perspective. Art history, in this sense, becomes a tool for dissecting the complex interplay between art and society, reminding us that art is always embedded in its historical context.