Kamer van de bemiddelaar in het Huis ter Nieuburch in Rijswijk, 1697 1697

In 1697, Jan van Vianen etched "Kamer van de Bemiddelaar in het Huis ter Nieuburch in Rijswijk," a scene dominated by a circular table, around which figures gather in diplomatic endeavor. The table, a potent symbol, evokes King Arthur's round table, representing equality and unity in purpose. Yet, here, it signifies negotiation, where power dynamics subtly play out. This motif echoes in Renaissance depictions of the Last Supper, where Christ and his disciples convene, sharing fellowship before a pivotal event. Notice how the arrangement of figures around the table, their gestures and interactions, hint at the complexities and tensions inherent in diplomatic processes. Such gatherings, reminiscent of ancient symposia or tribal councils, tap into humanity's deep-seated need for discourse and resolution. The table, therefore, serves as a stage upon which human dramas of negotiation, conflict, and reconciliation unfold, transcending time and cultural boundaries in its symbolic weight.