Allegorie op de vrede 1618 - 1655

Cornelis Schut created this etching, “Allegory of Peace,” a triumphant scene filled with symbolic gestures. Here, the central motif is peace, personified as a goddess, often crowned with olive leaves, symbols of prosperity and harmony, stretching back to ancient Greece and Rome. Note the putti encircling her with laurel wreaths – a sign of victory and honor, historically bestowed upon triumphant leaders and athletes. The vanquished figures lying at her feet, embodying war and discord, evoke complex emotions. This motif of triumph over adversity has roots in ancient victory monuments, but here, it’s filtered through a Christian lens, as peace is not merely the absence of war but a divine gift. Observe how this imagery resurfaces throughout history, whether in Renaissance paintings or Baroque sculptures. The symbol of the olive branch, for instance, carries echoes of the dove returning to Noah's Ark, signaling the end of the flood. These shared cultural memories speak to our collective yearning for tranquility and order amidst the chaos of human conflict, and this artwork taps into our deepest desires for hope and renewal.