De vrede van Westminster, 1674 1674

Romeyn de Hooghe created this print titled, *The Peace of Westminster*, in 1674, celebrating the end of the Third Anglo-Dutch War. Born in Amsterdam during the Dutch Golden Age, de Hooghe was immersed in a society navigating its identity through international trade and naval power. This print is not merely a historical record, it's a window into the intertwined concepts of peace and commerce. The central scene shows allegorical figures representing England and the Netherlands, their reconciliation celebrated with fireworks, underscoring the relief and jubilation felt after a period of intense conflict. De Hooghe uses the surrounding panels to illustrate various stages of negotiation and the impact of peace on daily life, framing it as a return to prosperity and order. However, it's important to remember that this peace was built on complex colonial dynamics, and the wealth it generated was unevenly distributed. De Hooghe’s print captures a pivotal moment in European history, reflecting both the aspirations and the inequalities of its time.