Verklaring bij een prent met allegorie op de Vrede van Amiens, 1802 1802

This print, made in 1802 by David Moens, uses etching to comment on the Peace of Amiens. The material is humble: ink on paper, but its impact as a means of communication at the time was considerable. Look at the way Moens has deployed the etched line; see how it gives volume to the allegorical figures on either side of the composition, and texture to the floral swags above and below. These forms act as a frame for the textual declaration in the center. Etching is a relatively democratic medium. It allowed for the wide distribution of imagery, fostering shared sentiments and solidifying social bonds. This print would have been relatively inexpensive, yet it embodies complex negotiations and the politics of its time. Note the artist's hand, and how it facilitates a public conversation about the shifting allegiances of European power. Though modest in its making, it speaks volumes.