Vrede van Munster, geslagen voor Amsterdam 1648

This is the Vrede van Munster, a struck silver medal created for Amsterdam by Johann Blum. The medal presents two distinct yet interconnected sides. One side depicts a dynamic scene of conflict, with figures and objects intertwined in a complex composition. The diagonal line of the spear creates dynamism, slicing through the pictorial space. The reverse offers a contrasting image of order and resolution, with a structured arrangement of text, figures, and symbolic elements. The juxtaposition of these scenes creates a semiotic system of signs, reflecting the cultural codes of its time. The medal thus destabilizes a fixed meaning of peace, instead suggesting a dialectical relationship between conflict and resolution. Consider how the medium of silver, with its reflective surface, might invite ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation.