Vuurwerk afgestoken op 9 december 1721 ter viering van de Vrede van Nystad 1721

This print by Jan (II) Smit depicts fireworks in celebration of the Treaty of Nystad in 1721. Here, amidst the bursts of light and smoke, we see symbols of power and peace intertwined. The most prominent motif is "PAX," Latin for peace, inscribed beneath a crown. This symbol hearkens back to ancient Roman iconography, where Pax was a goddess often depicted with an olive branch, embodying the hope for tranquility and prosperity. In contrast, the fireworks themselves, though celebratory, are fleeting, ephemeral. We see crowns, symbols of earthly power, juxtaposed with deities from antiquity, reminding us of the cyclical nature of history. Though empires rise and fall, the desire for peace endures, etched in our collective memory. Such symbols possess a potent, almost subconscious appeal. They are reborn across centuries, adapted by new cultures, yet still resonating with the human spirit.