Vrede van Munster 1648

Johann Blum created this silver commemorative coin, titled "Vrede van Munster," sometime between 1648 and 1689. The coin, with its circular form, features intricate, radially organized engravings on both sides. The primary visual element is the detailed cityscape, contrasted by the coin’s reverse, which features dense calligraphic inscriptions. The cityscape’s receding perspective creates depth, while the script flattens the visual field, inviting close, focused reading. This juxtaposition of image and text prompts one to question the relationship between seeing and reading, or between visual and textual authority. The use of silver as a medium is also significant. Its reflective surface interacts with ambient light, meaning the coin’s appearance changes according to its environment. The Peace of Munster, immortalized on this coin, signifies not just an end to conflict, but an ongoing process of interpretation.