Doolhof van Oorlog en Vrede, 1713 1713

Abraham Allard created this print titled "Doolhof van Oorlog en Vrede" in 1713. The composition immediately strikes us with its circular structure. Small vignettes are arranged like medallions around a vacant oval at the center of the print. The artist's use of line and form invites a semiotic interpretation. Each image operates as a sign within a larger framework. Allard employs these symbols to construct a narrative around the futility of war and the promise of peace through global trade. The circular layout suggests a cyclical or labyrinthine experience of conflict. The absence of a central image is striking. It destabilizes the conventional meaning, which challenges fixed notions about the glory of war. Allard prompts us to reflect on our values and the potential for constructing a more harmonious future through reason and commerce.