Allegorie op de vrede tussen Frankrijk en Engeland 1639

Michel Dorigny created this print, Allegory of the Peace between France and England, using etching techniques. The composition is divided into distinct registers. Heavily clouded, the lower register is where human figures recline. Above them, figures sit upright on the clouds, creating a sense of elevation. These are arranged in loose symmetry with winged figures at the top corners looking inward and downward. This draws our eye into the scene, generating feelings of both harmony and ascension. Dorigny uses light and shadow to define forms and create depth. The contrast between the dark clouds and the brighter figures enhances the scene’s dynamism. This play suggests the instability of earthly matters versus the clarity of heavenly peace. The structure, in its symmetry and upward movement, visually reinforces the concept of peace as a state of elevated equilibrium.