Gedenknaald voor de Vrede van Rijswijk 1697 1792 - 1799

Joannes Bemme made this print of the Gedenknaald voor de Vrede van Rijswijk 1697 with etching. The print commemorates the Peace of Rijswijk, a treaty signed in 1697, which ended the Nine Years' War between France and the Grand Alliance. Bemme created this print during a period of significant political and social change in Europe. The rise of nationalism and the shifting alliances among European powers shaped the cultural landscape. The monument itself, and consequently this print, serves as a symbol of negotiated peace in a world often defined by conflict. Consider the monument’s implicit commentary on the human desire for peace amidst constant war and the role of diplomacy in achieving it. The print’s existence speaks to the desire to memorialize pivotal moments in history and their impact on collective identity. The monument and this print embody the hope for lasting peace and the acknowledgement of the human cost of war. This artwork prompts reflection on the cyclical nature of conflict and peace.