De triomferende vredeswagen, 1683-1684 1683 - 1684

This print, made around 1683, presents us with an allegory of peace, or rather, a critique of its rejection. The central motif is the triumphal chariot of peace, but it is driven by ingratitude. This image resonates with the classical Roman triumph, a procession celebrating military victory. However, here, the laurel wreaths, usually symbols of honor and victory, are refused, twisted into a sign of rejection. The act of rejecting laurels finds echoes throughout history. We might recall how laurel wreaths, associated with Apollo, signified triumph and were worn by victors and poets. Yet, in this print, the rejection of such an honor reflects a deeper psychological tension: the struggle between embracing harmony and succumbing to discord, a conflict that is not unique to the 17th century, but rather, it repeats itself through time. The emotional power lies in this very rejection, this deliberate turning away from reconciliation, engaging our deepest fears of perpetual conflict.